Mildred Elaine Relyea Evenson
Mildred Elaine Relyea Evenson
(Jan. 23, 1938—April 11, 2026)
Mildred Elaine Relyea Evenson, 88, died April 11, 2026, at 9:24 a.m. She was born in the cold of winter Jan. 23, 1938, to Alvin Jasper Relyea and Rosemary Roberts Relyea of rural Taylor, WI. She married Donald Everett Evenson June 14, 1958, at the Taylor Lutheran Church. They celebrated 53 years of marriage. Don passed away Aug. 15, 2011. She will be remembered for her kind heart, love of laughter and joyful spirit.
Mildred attended University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and earned a bachelor of science degree in 1966. She taught elementary school in Chaseburg, Hixton and Black River Falls before retiring in 1999 because computers “took over.”
She enjoyed being a member of her church, the Jackson County Historical Society, Home and Community Life, the Tuesday Club, the Eastern Star, the Sons of Norway #534 and the “Ya-Ya’s.”
When young, Millie taught Sunday school and served as a Camp Fire and Cub Scout leader. In 2013, she was honored to be a Jackson County “Woman in History,’” so noted for her work as a curator of the Ho-Chunk photographs taken by Charles Van Schaick. Some of these pictures are in the book, “People of the Big Voice: Photographs of Ho-Chunk Families by Charles Van Schaick, 1879-1942,” published in 2011 by the Wisconsin Historical Society.
Mildred felt fortunate to learn about both sides of her family, who lived in Jackson County, through pictures, letters and reunions. With help from various family members, she and her mother, Rosemary, put together two family books, “You’ll Never Live Long Enough” and “How the Roberts Met the Disch.”
Mildred is survived by her daughter, Dr. Diane (Joseph) Harrington of Minneapolis, MN; her son, David (Linda) Evenson of Hutchinson, MN; grandchildren, Patrick (Jenna) Harrington, Sarah (Jordan) Kurtz and great-granddaughter Frankie Kurtz; Benjamin (Zoe) Evenson and great-grandson Dustin Evenson, Rachel (Jacob) Wawrzyniak, Daniel Evenson, and Jonathan Evenson; by brothers James and Timothy (Connie) Relyea; by sisters-in-law Audrey (Quinn) Holtan and Jeannie Kant; and by many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Don; parents Alvin and Rosemary Relyea; in-laws Ruben and Marion Evenson; brothers Richard and Keith Relyea; and sister Aimee Hegge; brother-in-law Morris (Verna) Evenson; brother-in-law Addison Hegge; sisters-in-law Ardyce Clemens and Jeannie Thill; and many well-loved aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.
Visitation will be held from 3 to 6 p.m. Sunday, April 19, 2026, at Buswell Funeral Home, Black River Falls. Friends may also pay their respects at Black River Falls Evangelical Lutheran Church for one hour prior to the service.
Services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, April 20, 2026, at the Black River Falls Evangelical Church. Pastor Jenny Hatleli will be officiating. Lunch will immediately follow the service. Graveside service will be held at French Creek Cemetery, near the Disco area.
Buswell Funeral Home, Black River Falls is assisting the family with arrangements.
The family would like to give thanks to the staffs at Pine View Terrace and Black River Memorial Hospital for the wonderful care they provided Mildred.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Millie’s honor to the Jackson County Historical Society or French Creek Cemetery.