Evelyn (Evie) M. (Bertelsen) Ternquist, age 94, passed peacefully on Monday morning, July 27, 2026 at Valley Senior Living on 42nd, Woodside Village in Grand Forks.

Evie was born on December 9, 1931, to Jens and Sofie (Jensen) Bertelsen at Westby, Montana, the 6th of 8 children. She was baptized at Emmaus Lutheran Church, Coalridge, Montana. She confirmed her faith at the Lutheran Church, Elk Horn, Iowa.

Evie was 7 ½ years old when her mother died of cancer. For several years the family stayed on the farm until care of the children and farm became burdensome for her father. In a selfless act of love, he sold the farm and moved with his four youngest children to Elk Horn, Iowa where he resided in a nursing home and Evie, Ella, Gordon and Kenneth lived at Elim Children’s Home. Evie attended school in Elk Horn. At age 16, she moved back to Westby, Montana where she lived with the Lininger family, doing housework to earn her board. She completed her high school education there and graduated with the Westby class of 1949. She then went to Minot State College and became a certified teacher. She taught in area one room country schools, several of the pupils being her niece and nephews. During this time, she met her future husband.

On June 16, 1953, Evie married Clayton Ternquist of rural Zahl, ND. They lived on the Ternquist family farm raising cattle and durum in partnership with Clayton’s brothers. In 1959 they purchased and moved to a farm near Dahlen, ND where they raised cattle, grain and their family of 4 children. In 1990 they moved off the farm and into the city of Michigan. After Clayton passed in 2006, Evie moved into Grand Forks, and remained there until her passing.

Evie lived by the saying, “Idle hands are the devil’s workshop”. Her hands knew the hard work of being a farmer’s wife, pulling a stuck tractor from the mud, preparing and serving meals or lunches to hungry men, or tending to a large garden. Hands that lovingly sewed clothes for her family, patched worn overalls, embroidered dishtowels for every child and grandchild, stitched hardanger works of beauty and amazing quilts. Hands that cradled every grandchild and great grandchild who brought her such joy. Hands that cared for her husband who suffered from Parkinson’s Disease. Hands that were folded as she prayed to the God she so reverently believed in, sharing and teaching that same belief to her family.

Evie was active at Dahlen Lutheran church where she taught Sunday School and Jr. Lutherans. She held offices in Ladies Aid and participated in Bible Studies. She was also a 4H leader.

Friends and family, near and far, were important to Evie and she enjoyed gathering with them or phone calls to chat. While spending many winters in Arizona, she played bocce ball and pickle ball, entertained many guests and played countless games of cards.

Left with many loving memories are her children: Vicki Yoney of Petersburg, ND, Allen (Lori) Ternquist of Michigan, ND, Faye (Tim) Huether of Lisbon, ND, and Jeanie (Cameron) Korynta, of Fordville, ND. Also surviving are 8 grandchildren: Dustin (Ashley) Yoney, Breanne (Nathan) Carlson, Brandon (Dana) Smestad, Kyle (Miranda) Huether, Emily (Justin Halvorson) Yoney, Megan (Tanner) Overby, Nicholas (Morgan) Smestad, and Andrew Ternquist, and 10 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

Evie was preceded in death by her husband Clayton, parents Jens and Sofie Bertelsen, siblings Karen Miller, Anne Christensen, Minnie Brandvold, Harold Bertelsen, Ella Jorgensen, Gordon Bertelsen, Kenneth Bertelsen, and son-in-law Michael Yoney.

The family would like to extend gratitude and thank the staff of Valley 4000, and Dr. Yvonne Gomez for their excellent care of our mother.

Visitation will be on Sunday, August 2, 2026 from 5-7 p.m. with a prayer service at 7:00 p.m. at Aaker Funeral Home, Lakota, ND.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, August 3, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. at Dahlen Lutheran Church, Dahlen, ND, with visitation beginning at 10:00 a.m.

Burial will be at Zion Lutheran Cemetery, rural Dahlen, ND.

The funeral service will be live-streamed on the Dahlen Lutheran Church YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/@dahlenlutheranchurch?si=5iIhf1ILXn3pjKqe