Evelyn Orlene Speer

Evelyn Orlene (Hanson) Speer, 89, of Conrad, Montana, passed away peacefully on January 13, 2019 at Peace Hospice in Great Falls. She spent her final days surrounded by family. A memorial service will be held at Pondera Valley Lutheran Church on Saturday, February 2, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. O’Connor Funeral Home is handling the arrangements. Evelyn was born on December 9, 1929 on a quaint dairy farm in Bagley, Minnesota to Oswald and Cora (Iverson) Hanson. Throughout life she loved sharing fond memories from her childhood of milking cows and working on the farm with her brother and five sisters. As much as she enjoyed her time in Minnesota, Evelyn decided to follow her brother, Kenneth, to Conrad in the mid 1940’s to begin a new life out west. While Evelyn was working at the Luce Hotel, Alan Lloyd Speer fell in love with her at first sight, stating she was the “cutest little thing in town.” They were married July 11, 1950 and went on to have four children and seven grandchildren, whom they cherished and bragged about often. Evelyn’s greatest passion was taking care of people. While working as a CNA and then a certified inhalation therapist at Pondera Medical Center, she was an exemplary caregiver for over 50 years. Evelyn brought vim and vigor to the medical center until she retired at the age of 78. After retirement and the passing of her husband, Evelyn spent the last of her years with her daughter, Loyanne, on the Speer farm. Those who knew Evelyn will always remember her for her witty jokes, spunkiness, strong work ethic, love of coffee and sweets, and enjoyment of hosting all those who entered her home. She loved gardening, her animals, going for drives with Lloyd, and spending time with friends and family. Her hilarious sayings and her Norwegian songs will forever be remembered and passed down by family. Evelyn is survived by her children, Marc (Faye) Speer, Loyanne Gustafson, and Sinda (Terry) LaBreche; seven grandchildren, Ben, Erika, Sinda, Sheena, Brooke, Conner, and Dalton; great-grandchild Niko; sisters Leona Olson and Florence Springer; sisters-in-law Jean Largent and Bernetta Hanson; numerous nieces and nephews; and her longest and dearest friends, Mary Pourroy and Matty DePriest. Evelyn was preceded in death by her infant son; husband Lloyd; her parents; sisters Eileen Jasperson, Coral Friborg, and Jeannette Brown; and brother Kenneth Hanson. Memorial contributions may be sent to Benefis Peace Hospice in Great Falls or Pondera Valley Lutheran Church.