Evelyn Marie (Dressel) Tollefson

Evelyn Marie Tollefson (Dressel), formerly of St. Louis Park, age 90, beloved mother, passed away on Monday, August 19, 2019, the Memorial of St. John Eudes.  Evelyn was born on July 27, 1929, on a farm near Le Sueur.  Having graduated from high school in 1947, she graduated as salutatorian from the St. Barnabas Hospital School of Nursing of Minneapolis in 1950.

After graduation, she worked at St. B and the Twin Cities arsenal as an industrial nurse.  Later, she returned to St. B as assistant head nurse and instructor in nursing arts.  In 1963, she earned her B.S.N. Ed. from the U of M with distinction, returning to St. B as a med-surg instructor.  She mentored young nursing students in the skills of observation, perception, interpersonal relationships, and communication.  The 1966 St. B yearbook was dedicated to her with these beautiful words: “In appreciation for all the time you have spent with us and the patience you have shown with us; for all the advice and counseling you have given us and for just being there when we need you—we dedicate this Sabarho to you—Miss Evelyn Dressel—the best example of what a St. Barnabas graduate should be.”  In 1968, she worked as Clinic Coordinator at Children’s Hospital in St. Paul along with working to complete a Master’s in Public Health, doing work with the American Indian population.

On October 15, 1969, she married Gordon R. Tollefson and had one son, Rolf, in 1971.

She served at Union Congregational UCC in many volunteer capacities.  She briefly returned to the work force in 1979 as a nurse at Abbott Northwestern in the ICU and CCU.  She worked at Health Partners and Aetna until her retirement in 1997.

Evelyn loved to play the piano, sing alto in choir, and sing in harmony with her son and husband each Christmas Eve.  She enjoyed traveling, including a trip to Hawaii in 1958.   She exuded gentleness, authentic concern for the feelings of others, and Christian joy.  She shall be deeply missed.

Evelyn is preceded in death by her husband, Gordon; brother, Robert; mother, Lydia, and father, William.

She is survived by her son, Rolf; nephew, Ray Dressel; nieces, Ginny (Jack) Mosher, and Sue (Howard) Holicky; sister-in-law, Janie Falk; brother-in-law, Bruce Tollefson, and many cousins.  Visitation at the Church of St. Hubert, 8201 Main St., Chanhassen, 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Friday, August 23, with a prayer service at 7:30.  Funeral Service at Union Congregational United Church of Christ, 3700 Alabama Ave. So., St. Louis Park, on Saturday, with reviewal at 10 am; 11 am service.  Interment in Mound Cemetery, Le Sueur.  Memorials to Magnum Chorum or the Handmaids of the Heart of Jesus.  Many thanks to the caring staff at Presbyterian Homes Summerwood and Lake Minnetonka Shores.