Evelyn Fornshell-Billman

PILLAGER - Evelyn Fornshell-Billman, 90, of Pillager, passed away Saturday, Aug. 8, 2009, at Whispering Pines Nursing Home in Pine River, Minn. Funeral services for Evelyn are scheduled for 2 p.m. Monday, Aug. 17 at Brenny Funeral Chapel in Baxter with Pastor Julie Sutton-Deem officiating. Friends are welcome to gather one hour prior to services. Interment will follow at Evergreen Memorial Gardens. A reception will be held at the Brenny Funeral Chapel Reception Room.

Evelyn was born March 20, 1919, in Brainerd, the daughter of Charles and Pegny Gosse. She worked at St. Joseph's Medical Center as a nurse for 20 years and while working there she met her husband, Leonard Fornshell. The couple was married Aug. 22, 1967. She and Leonard then made their home in rural Pillager. There they owned and operated buses for 17 years. Leonard passed away Nov. 25, 1985. She met Elmer Billman and they were life partners for 18 years and married on Oct. 22, 2008, making their home in Pillager until her death. Evelyn was a member of First Evangelical Lutheran Church of Pillager and a life member of American Legion, Post No. 53. She enjoyed crocheting, embroidering, cooking, gardening and traveling. She loved her family.

Evelyn is survived by her husband, Elmer; her son, Leland (Judy) Foy, of Brainerd; daughters, Geraldine (Dennis) Gallant, of Yelm, Wash., and Shirley (George) Britton, of Ely, Minn.; four stepdaughters, Alexandria Noble, of Prior Lake, Minn., Patricia (Cameron) Hedland, of Prior Lake, Minn., Denise Billman, of Phoenix, Ariz., and Debra Labrie, of Phoenix, Ariz.; sisters-in-law, Jeannette Fornshell, of Pillager, Dorothy Fornshell, of Pillager, Betty Farber, of Motley, and Aldene Gosse, of Brainerd; seven grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; six great-great-grandchildren; two stepgrandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her first husband, George Foy; her second husband, Leonard Fornshell; and her brother, Ernest Gosse.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the Brenny Funeral Chapel of Baxter.