Evelyn “Spin” Trautman, age 101, of Balaton, Minnesota, formerly of Lake Benton and Tyler, Minnesota, passed away peacefully on Sunday, January 28, 2024, at the Lakeview Senior Living in Balaton. A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, June 29, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. at First English Lutheran Church in Tyler, Minnesota. Burial will follow in the Danebod Cemetery, Tyler, Minnesota.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the Hartquist Funeral Home – Lake Benton Chapel. Please visit www.hartquistfuneral.com to sign an online registry and leave condolences.
Evelyn “Spin” Trautman was born on June 9, 1922 to Petra (Nelson) and Karl Kvaale in Tyler, Minnesota. She was baptized on August 18, 1934 and later confirmed on March 21, 1937 at the First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tyler. In her early childhood, Spin attended Tyler Public School, graduating in 1940. She married Norman Trautman on September 26, 1946 in Tyler. Their marriage blessed them with four children, many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Throughout her life, Spin lived as a proud Norwegian in multiple towns in Minnesota including Tyler, Lake Benton and Balaton. Following her high school graduation, she was employed by W.P. Stork, then as a legal secretary for E.T. McEvoy, Esq. and worked as a homemaker and farmed with Norman on the family farm for 45 years. She was a member of the Immanuel Ev. Lutheran Church in Verdi Township where she taught Sunday School for 10 years and was a member of the Ladies Aid. After the closing of the country church, she joined St. John’s Lutheran Church in Lake Benton. While a resident of Tyler, she was a devoted member and volunteer of First English Lutheran Church. She volunteered at Hospice and Tyler Hospital. When she wasn’t volunteering, she could be found with a book in her hands, as she was an avid reader. She loved crocheting afghans, playing spoons with her family, gardening, canning, walking and helping others. She received many blue-ribbon awards at the Lincoln County Fair for baking her legendary angel food cakes.
Spin was an incredible woman who will be remembered for her sense of humor, quick wit, love for dancing, love for her family and her desire to assist those in need. She was known for her excellent penmanship, spelling ability and strong determination. With her children by her side, Spin passed away peacefully on Sunday, January 28, 2024 at Lakeview Senior Living in Balaton, Minnesota at the age of 101. She will be carried in our hearts, wrapped in rich layers of loving memories and fiercely missed by everyone.
She is survived by her children: Cindi (Mike) Nordmeyer of Prior Lake, Minnesota, Paul (Mary) Trautman of Andover, Minnesota and Rosalyn Trautman of Eureka, California; her sister, Dorothy Hansen of Elk River, Minnesota; ten grandchildren: Michelle (Tom) Scheid, Greg Cyriacks, Brad Cyriacks, Jason (Sue) Nordmeyer, Aimee (Mike) Boehnlein, Jenny Trautman-Maki, Chris (Melanie) Trautman, Dan (Keli) Trautman, Alicia (Ryan) Rousseau, and Heather Johnson (Ian Weatherbee); sixteen great-grandchildren: Laynie & Wyat Nordmeyer, Heidi & Hannah Boehnlein, Autumn & Alex Maki, Nolan Trautman, Willow & Harper Trautman, Bella & Ally Scheid, Savannah, Dean & Julia Rousseau, Summer Pruit and Sophia Weatherbee. Spin is preceded in death by her beloved husband, Norman with whom she shared 48 years of marriage; as well as her parents, Karl & Petra Kvaale; daughter, Leanna Cyriacks; six sisters & many brothers-in-law; four nieces; two nephews; two sisters-in-law; and her dear friends, Eva Beehner, Joyce Serie, Edna Ballard and Cleone Willert.
Spin’s family would like to thank Sharon & Bob Laurel, Butch Smith, Carole Carr, Richard Siemers and Mark Schwanebeck for their unwavering love, phone calls and visits. We also want to thank the caregivers at Lakeview Senior Living for the love and care they gave our mother during the past 2-½ years.
Gifts and memorials will be forwarded to Spin’s favorite charities.