Harriet Freeman Evert

December 23, 1923 - November 6, 2020

Born to Andrew Freeman and Lulu (Holmquist) Freeman in their farm home near Stromsburg, Nebraska.  Attended and graduated public schools in Stromsburg in 1941.  At age 17, taught for one year at Liberty School, a one-room rural elementary school.  Attended the University of Nebraska Lincoln and graduated with a major in Clothing and Textiles from their Home Economics Department in 1946.  From 1946 - 48 employed as a traveling fashion advisor by the Butterick Pattern Company for seven midwestern states.  From 1948 - 50 employed by J.L. Hudson Company, Detroit Michigan as sewing consultant “Ann Woodward.”  During these years, she enjoyed living with other young professional women at the YWCA.

On January 2, 1949, on the train out of Chicago for Detroit, a young man asked if he could move her hat box from the seat beside her, as it was the only empty seat. She said he could. This began a relationship that led to their marriage on April 2, 1950.  Jack L. Evert, from Sabin Minnesota, was working as an engineer for the Ford Motor Company in Dearborn, Michigan.  In August of 1950, he decided to join an uncle in business in Minnesota, so they moved to Moorhead.  In 1958, Jack joined Pioneer Mutual Life in Fargo as a sales representative.  They were the parents of four children.

In 1960, Harriet was asked to teach part-time in the Home Economics Department at Concordia College.  She retired in 1984.  Jack and Harriet had a summer cottage on Fish Lake where they enjoyed time with family and neighbors.  Harriet was a member of First Presbyterian Church Fargo and Moorhead, active in Women’s Association, and as a Sunday School teacher and elder.  She was a member of Chapter DC PEO and Fine Arts Club.  Jack and Harriet were active participants in Elder Hostel programs.  They spent a part of each winter in Fountain Hills AZ.

Harriet’s friends and family loved her sense of style and the way she made her home feel so inviting.  She was a fine seamstress and a constant knitter and needle-worker, creating treasures for her home and for so many others.  She knit dozens of sweaters for refugee children around the world.  She was a constant letter writer.  She and Jack cultivated many deep friendships that lasted through the decades.  They supported and attended many cultural events and organizations in Fargo-Moorhead.  Harriet enjoyed textile arts, architecture, and travel.  She was a co-leader for two Concordia May Seminars.  Harriet and Jack loved living at Touchmark in Fargo for the last eight years and deeply appreciate the wonderful staff there.  In August, they relocated to the Twin Cities to be closer to their daughters.  

Survivors:  Husband Jack.  Children: Sarah Evert (Gary Baker); Thomas Evert (Alison); James Evert (Rebecca Lillard); and Nancy Evert.  Grandchildren: Dorothy and Ruth Baker; Jack and Sarah Evert; Amelia and Marco Evert.  Preceded in death by her parents and three brothers: John, Sam, and Ward.  Memorials to YWCA Cass County Emergency Shelter or First Presbyterian Church Fargo Music Fund.  

Services pending.  Obituary and pictures available at www.washburn-mcreavy.com.