It has become popular to talk and even joke about "Minnesota Nice." In the future, dictionaries will have a picture of Evelyn Roland next to the definition of that term. Some people are known as skilled, or talented, or vivacious. Evelyn was nice.

Evelyn Annette Roland calmly went home to be with Jesus on January 22nd, 2017, at North Memorial Hospital in Robbinsdale, Minnesota.

She was born to Edward and Grace Hermann on October 4, 1923, on the family farm near Zumbro Falls, Minnesota. She attended District 52 School for 8 years. In 1941 she graduated from Rochester High School. She met her future husband, Morgan Roland, in Sunday School class at South Troy Wesleyan Church. They were married in the same church on June 2, 1944. They had an amazing 71 years together. Maybe everyone could stay married for that long if they met in Sunday School. They raised four children together.

Evelyn was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Morgan, son, Harlan, 2 brothers, and one sister. She is survived by daughter-in-law, Ianthe Hermann of Apple Valley, MN; daughters Janet (Donald) Thune of Brooklyn Park, MN; Joanne Krueger (Roger Brumm) of Staceyville, IA; son, Woody (Susan) Roland of Rochester; eight grandchildren (whom she loved profoundly); 15 great-grandchildren (who brought her great joy); one sister, Winifred (Maynard) Salley of Rochester; and a brother, Wilfred (Adeline) Hermann of Wanamingo.

Evelyn was a farm wife, a seamstress, and a credit reporter at the Rochester Credit Bureau for 17 years. She enjoyed gardening, cooking, baking, and sewing. She loved her family and, for that matter, anyone who stopped by to visit.

The funeral service will be celebrated in the Timothy Chapel at Autumn Ridge Church at 10:30am on Saturday, January 28th. Visitation is scheduled for Friday, January 27th at Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Home from 4:00pm until 7:00pm. There will also be visitation one hour before the funeral service.

Evelyn's family would like to give special thanks to Dr. Paul Takahashi, M.D. and the Care Transitions Team at Mayo Clinic. They are also grateful to the staff on the sixth floor of North Memorial Hospital. As Evelyn said in some of her final words, "I appreciate it. Thank-you." (There. Wasn't she nice?)