Evelyn Norma Leisy

ABERDEEN - Evelyn Norma (Delzer) Leisy, 88, went home to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Thursday, March 7, 2013.

     Evelyn was born May 24, 1924, to Christian and Emma (Shultz) Delzer in Sacramento, CA.  When Evelyn was 12 years old, the family moved to Idaho to start the Mission Church in Fort Hall in 1936.  Evelyn attended schools in Sacramento, Fort Hall and Pocatello, graduating from Pocatello High School in 1942. 

     Evelyn met Richard Emil Leisy at a church function when she was in high school and they were married on a Sunday afternoon, May 31, 1942 in Aberdeen, Idaho.  Evelyn always loved to tell of how she had her eighteenth birthday, graduated from high school and got married all in the same week. The happy couple settled in their little house on their farm in Aberdeen where they started their family of four children.  Evelyn was a city girl, but she quickly learned how to operate and drive a farm truck, which she did for many years during potato and grain harvest.  She also tended a large vegetable and flower garden and loved working in her beautifully maintained yard.  Nothing came easy during this era of hard times, but hard work and dedication to the Lord were the rule they lived by throughout their 57 years together.  Richard died of cancer in 1999.

      Evelyn was an accomplished musician and taught piano, violin and organ for over fifty years, even teaching some of her piano students until the age of 84 when her Alzheimer's disease progressed to the point that she was no longer able to teach.  She also served as a pianist for her church as well as for the Aberdeen Senior Citizens Center, the Power County Senior Citizens Center and many other local and civic organizations.  Although the progression of Alzheimer's disease continued, Evelyn's love for music and her Savior endured to the end.  She could always be found trying to give a piano lesson to one of her caregivers or singing praises to the Lord (she always carried the harmony part.)

     Evelyn was also a professional cake decorator, creating hundreds of beautiful wedding, birthday and special occasion cakes over the years. Many people still fondly refer to her as "the Cake Lady." She was also an active member of the Gideon’s International Auxiliary for over 40 years, serving in many capacities on local and state levels.  She was also an accomplished seamstress and enjoyed sewing and making quilts for her children and grandchildren.

     She was always a very active member of her church and served as the church pianist, Sunday school teacher, women's ministries leader and in many, many other capacities over her lifetime.  She lived a life of service to God, family and others and always did so with a happy heart. 

     Evelyn was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Richard; her parents, Chris and Emma Delzer; brothers Alvin (Dorothy) Delzer; Robert (Betty) Delzer; and sister Esther (Jim) O'Hara all of Sacramento, CA.; son-in-law William Frazer of Woodridge, IL: brothers-in-law, Art (Deaun) Leisy, Leonard Leisy and Jack Clark.   She is survived by her children, Carol (Gary) McCulloch of American Falls, ID, Doreen Frazer of Woodridge, IL, Donald (Mary) Leisy of Aberdeen, ID and Wesley (Mary) Leisy of American Falls, ID; sisters, Laura (Robert) Dunbar of Wilsonville, Oregon and Ruth Clark of Pocatello, ID; brother in law, Willard (Marion)Leisy , Boise, ID; sister-in law, Peggy Leisy of American Falls, ID;  eight grandchildren, Jay McCulloch, Tracy McCulloch, Cindy Miller, Angela Frazer, Dawn Ferrell, Heather Leisy, Lisa Leisy and Richard Leisy; and nine great-grandchildren, Jonathan, Meg and Luke Farrell, Dylan, Brianna and Aubrey Brigham and Kolter, Paige and Kate Leisy; as well as many nieces and nephews.

     The family would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to Dr. LaVonne Mills; the wonderful staff at Caring Hearts Assisted Living Center; and Alliance Home Health and Hospice for all of their dedicated, loving and compassionate care for our mother, grandmother and great-grandmother for the past two and one-half years.

   Interment service will be held on Thursday, March 14, at 9:30 a.m. at the Aberdeen Cemetery with the Memorial Service immediately following on Thursday, March 14, 2012, at 11 a.m. at the Mennonite Church in Aberdeen, ID.  The visitation will be from 6 - 8 p.m. Wednesday, March 13, at Davis-Rose Mortuary in American Falls, ID.

 In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be given in Evelyn's memory to Alliance Home Health and Hospice, 440 E Clark Suite A, Pocatello,  Idaho  or to the Gideon’s International at www.gideons.org or you may mail your memorial contribution to Gideon’s International, P.O. Box 140800, Nashville, TN 37214-0800.

  Condolences and special memories of piano lessons, special cakes, friendships or special times with Evelyn may be shared at www.davisrosemortuary.com.