Evelyn Marie Kivi

FAIRMONT, Minn. - Evelyn Marie Kivi, age 90, passed away Sunday evening, Nov. 8, 2020, at the Lakeview Methodist Health Care Center in Fairmont.

Evelyn Kivi was born April 22, 1930, to Hjalmer and Lempi (Maki) Pesola in Bessemer, Michigan. Growing up, she attended Luther L. Wright High School in Ironwood, Michigan, where she graduated at age 17.

On Oct. 30, 1948, Evelyn was united in marriage to James Arvid Kivi at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Ironwood. This union was blessed with three children: Paula, Carol and Robert. The family made their home in Ironwood before moving to Minneapolis. After retirement, Evelyn and James wintered in Arizona for 19 years, before moving full-time to Fairmont in 2010.

Evelyn worked for many years as a manager at Prudential Life Insurance while in Minneapolis. She also taught Sunday school and served on state square dancing boards. She and her husband, James, were very involved in square dancing, were avid travelers both domestic and international, and were both very proud of their Finnish heritage. Evelyn was also a voracious reader, a very accomplished seamstress, and a master gardener.

Those left to cherish her memory include her daughters, Paula (Gerald) Tietje and Carol (Joel) Wellman; and grandchildren, Jefferson (Heather) Tietje, Joshua (Susan) Tietje, Jenna (Timothy) Gilday, Jacob (Nikki) Tietje, Chelsea (Brent) Ogren, Nicole (Alex Johnson) Prin, and Jedediah Kivi; great-grandchildren: Teagan and Treysen Tietje, Aaron and Anna Tietje, Grant Gilday, Elsie and William Tietje, Katelyn, Sydney, and Riley Ogren, Leighton and Tucker Prin, and Leland Wellman. She is also survived by sisters- and brothers-in-law, Carol Pesola, Harry Winski, John and Sue Kivi, Gloria Kivi, Eugene and Pat Kivi; as well as several nieces and nephews. 

Evelyn was preceded in death by her husband, James Kivi; son, Robert Kivi; parents, Hjalmer and Lempi Pesola; parents-in-law, Arvid and Saimi Kivi; brothers- and sisters-in-law: Luverne and Dick Michalek, Arlove Winski, Reino Kivi, Janice Kivi; and nephew, Michael Kivi.

Funeral services for Evelyn will be held at a later date.

The Lakeview Funeral Home in Fairmont is assisting the family with arrangements. For more information, visit lakeviewfuneralhome.net.