Evelyn Haas

Evelyn Haas, 98, beloved mother, grandmother, and great grandmother passed away peacefully on November 16 ^th 2017 at the Baptist Healthcare Center in Bismarck.

A memorial service will be held at 2 pm on Tuesday, November 28 at Buehler-Larson Funeral Home, Mandan.  Family will greet friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.  Burial will be at Mandan Union Cemetery.

Evelyn was born June 28, 1919, at Garden City, Kansas to Fay Sr. and Margaret (Longbottom) Wagner.  She was the oldest daughter in a family of three boys and two girls and quickly became a second mother to her siblings.  She spent her early life on the KSU Dryland Experiment Station where her father was the superintendent.  Evelyn met and married Howard Haas, a soil scientist and the love of her life, in Garden City, KS on September 3, 1937.

After 5 years with USDA, Agriculture Research Service at Garden City, Howard accepted a position with USDA Northern Great Plains Research Station and they moved to Mandan, ND where they lived the next 30 years in Mandan and Bismarck.  They became snow birds following Howard’s retirement in 1972, traveling extensively in the south west via travel trailer seeking a retirement home. In 1979, they became full time residents of Prescott, Arizona and built a new home. They enjoyed their life in Prescott and the several ocean cruises they made.

Evelyn was happiest at home as a dedicated wife, home maker, and mother. She was always a homemaker first but also worked several years as a clerk at Mandan Rexall Drug, She was known for her special meals and immaculate home. She would spend days planning and preparing the house and special holiday meals. Christmas was always filled with many types of traditional favorite cookies, bars and special candies. Her meticulous nature could also be seen in her appearance, very proud, meticulously dressed, every hair in place. A weekly visit to her hair dresser always held a high priority on her “to do’ list.

Howard passed away in 1998. Evelyn continued to live in and care for their home in Prescott, Arizona until moving into Las Fuentes Assisted Living in Prescott in 2013 at the age of 94. To be closer to her son Russell and family, she moved to the Touchmark Assisted Living in Bismarck in 2016 and the Baptist Healthcare Center in 2017.

Evelyn was an inspiration to all for her inner strength, endurance, patience and courage.  She was a quiet unassuming individual, never quitting until a job was done. She did her very best at everything and expected the same from others. She was always generous, loving, caring, expressing concern and respect.

Evelyn is survived by one son, Russell (Mary) Haas, Bismarck;  one  brother, William (Sue) Wagner, Salt Lake City, UT; one  sister, Mary Louise Powelson, Prescott, AZ; two  grandchildren, Timothy (Amy) Haas, Cody, WY and Gregory Haas,  Bismarck; four great grandchildren, Ryan, James, and Joey Haas, all of Bismarck and Avryl Haas, Cody, WY; and five nieces and six nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Fay Wagner Jr. and his wife, Juddie; brother,  Robert Wagner and his wife, Bernice; her husband,  Howard Haas;  son, Gordon Haas; grandson,  Jeffrey Haas; and  brother in law, Keith Powelson.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation be made in Evelyn’s name to the organization of their choice.

Many thanks to the staff at the Baptist Healthcare Center who cared for our mother in the final days of her mortal life.