Evelyn Mae Burtch, 95, of Austin, Minnesota, passed away peacefully while the Bible was being read to her on Friday, Oct. 11, 2019, at Good Samaritan Society in Albert Lea, Minnesota.

Evelyn was born on Feb. 3, 1924, in Austin to Otto and Alvina (Bulson) Smith. She grew up in Austin and graduated from Austin High School in 1942. She accepted Jesus Christ as her personal Savior at an early age. On Oct. 9, 1942, Evelyn was united in marriage to Eugene E. Burtch at the First Baptist Church in Austin. They just celebrated their 77th wedding anniversary on Wednesday. Together they raised three children. She worked for Hormel Foods as a secretary for a short time before becoming a full-time homemaker. Evelyn was a member of Grace Baptist Church. She held a JOY Club in her home and worked alongside her husband with the church youth group. She was actively involved with the Awana Club, Vacation Bible School, and attended the Community Bible Study for many years. Evelyn will be missed by all who loved and knew her.

Survivors include her husband, Eugene, of Good Samaritan Society, Albert Lea; a daughter, Cynthia (Terry) Hunst, Lakeville, Minnesota; sons, Keith (Linnea) Burtch, Austin, and Brian (Judy) Burtch, Holland, Michigan; nine grandchildren, Timothy (Sarah) Hunst, Owatonna, Minnesota, Melissa (Jeremy) Noble, Maple Grove, Minnesota, Meridee (Michael) Carreiro, Colorado Springs, Colorado, Jenna (Chad) Nienhuis, Holland, Carly (Zach) Petroelje, Zeeland, Michigan, Grant (Carol) Burtch, St. Louis, Missouri, Kathyrn (Kurt) Buchanan, Woodford, Virginia, Heather (Nathan) Dahle, Waseca, Minnesota, and Kristofer (Maria) Luiken, Point Pleasant, West Virginia; 23 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Nelda Hanson, Hutchinson, Minnesota, and Blanche Kramer, Henderson, Nevada; and many other wonderful relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, Otto and Alvina Smith; and two brothers, Robert Smith and Raymond Johnson.

Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 18, 2019, at Grace Baptist Church in Austin with Pastor Devin Larsen officiating. Visitation will be held for one hour before the service on Friday at the church. Interment will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday at the Minnesota State Veteran’s Cemetery in Preston, Minnesota. Memorials can be directed to Grace Baptist Church. Worlein Funeral Home of Austin is assisting the family with arrangements. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.worlein.com.