Evelyn C. Duncklee

On July 17, 2026, Evelyn C. Duncklee, age 101, passed away at her home on the farm in Emerado, ND, surrounded by her family.

Evelyn was born on August 10, 1924, to Ingvald and Christine (Kvamme) Haarstad in Hawley, MN. Evelyn was the oldest of five children. She graduated from Barnesville High School in Barnesville, MN. She then went on to study nursing at Deaconess School of Nursing in Grand Forks, ND. After WWII she met the love of her life, Romanzo Edwin Duncklee, a returning paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne.

Romanzo and Evelyn were married on September 6, 1947, a loving marriage that lasted 72 years! Romanzo and Evelyn farmed east of Emerado for almost 40 years, where they raised their six children. Their home was a busy place with their door always open to others.

Evelyn worked as a registered nurse for many years while balancing being a mother and farmer’s wife. She was very active in the Bethesda Society at Valley Senior Living for many years.

She loved to garden and was an amazing cook. Her cooking talents included baking whole wheat bread from the wheat grown on the farm, canning, preserving jams and jellies and making wonderful pies! She was an amazing quilter and made hundreds of quilts for family and friends.

Evelyn is survived by brothers Ken Haarstad and Rick (Karen) Haarstad; her six children, Dan (Terri) Duncklee, Christi (Craig) Baughman, June (Jim) Van Valkenburg, Romanzo Jr (Mikki) Duncklee, Rachel (David) Guerrero and Virgil Duncklee; fifteen grandchildren and thirty-one great-grandchildren and two great great grandchildren.

Visitation will be held from 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, July 28, 2026, at Bethel Lutheran Church, Grand Forks, ND. Funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, July 28, 2026, at Bethel Lutheran Church, Grand Forks, ND. Interment will follow at Zion Lutheran Cemetery, 7999 210th St S, Hawley, MN 56549 at 3:00 p.m.

Memorials may be made to Gideons, Bethesda Society and Bethel Lutheran Church.

Evelyn was preceded in death by her parents, spouse, two sisters and one grandchild.