Kevin Evink

Kevin Lee Evink, son of Conrad and Anna Mae (Ver Steeg) Evink, was born June 10, 1963 in Morris , Minnesota . He grew up in Hancock , Minnesota , where he was baptized on June 30, 1963 at the Christian Reformed Church by Reverend Roorda. Kevin received his schooling in Hancock, graduating from Hancock High School in 1981. He then attended Willmar Vo-Tech, graduating in 1982. After graduation, Kevin began working at Libby Wholesale in Morris. On June 27, 1987, he was united in marriage to Wendy Valnes at Our Redeemer’s Lutheran Church in Hancock by Reverend Rachel Thorson-Mithelman. Following their marriage, the couple made their home in the Morris area, and Kevin continued to work for Libby Wholesale. He also became a member of Faith Lutheran Church in Morris in 1988. In May 1989, Kevin joined Robert and Todd in the ownership of Valnes Well Drilling. Kevin, Robert & Todd have worked together running that business since that time. Very few people know how to work as hard as Kevin did, and his extra efforts will forever be missed by the many customers who benefited from his exceptional work ethic.

Kevin was a member of the Morris Sports Boosters, and was also an active member of Faith Lutheran Church , and had served on the church council. Some of his favorite hobbies included snowmobiling, fishing, doing carpentry work and especially watching and coaching his kid’s sporting events.

Kevin died on Saturday, October 4, 2008 at the Stevens Community Medical Center in Morris, after a 7 month battle with melanoma cancer, having lived to reach the age of 45 years.

He is survived by his wife: Wendy Evink of Morris; two children: Tyler Evink and Kayla Evink of Morris; his mother: Anna Mae Evink of Hancock; two sisters: Bernice (Vern) Christie of Hancock and Cherie (Wayne) Lien of Starbuck; two brothers: Roger Evink of Hancock and Michael (Janet) Evink of Hancock; his father-in-law & mother-in-law: Robert & Barb Valnes of Morris; one brother-in-law: Todd (Jean) Valnes of Morris and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father, Conrad Evink; sister-in-law: Mary Evink and his grandparents.

Pallbearers for the service are: Bruce Schmidgall, Chuck Nelson, Ron Berning, Rick Gramm, Dan Sayles, Rollin Evink, Allen Ver Steeg and Doug Stahman. Honorary pallbearers are Kevin’s Nieces & Nephews: Nicole Koser, Anita Christie, Nate Christie, Leah Deutsch, Cory Evink, Amanda Evink, Jason Evink, Randy Evink, Andrew Evink, Alisha Zavadil, Aaron Lien, Nicole Valnes and Bradyn Valnes. Rita Lambert will serve as organist for the service, with Thore Dosdall serving as soloist. Pedersen Funeral Home in Morris is in charge of the arrangements.