Grace E. Evenson was born Arpil 21, 1922 in Wasta, SD to parents John and Anna Evenson. She was orphaned by the age of three and was raised by her paternal grandparents and her aunts, Anna and Selma Evenson. Grace passed away July 19, 2017 at Bethesda Nursing Home in Beresford, SD at the age of 95 years, 2 months and 28 days.

Grace attended school in Mission Hill, SD and graduated from Augustana Academy in 1940. She attended one year at Southern State Teacher's College in Springfield, SD. She then went to work for the Bethesda Orphanage in Beresford. Grace also worked at the Beresford Republic and at Bethesda of Beresford for 22 years. She served as the Sunday School Superintendent for Emmanuel Lutheran Church for over 30 years.

Grace was united in marriage to Robert F. Runyan on August 8, 1943. Together they had five sons, George (Carol) Runyan, Robbinsdale, MN, Dan (Sandra) Runyan, Wichita, KS, Robert (Darlene) Runyan, Sioux Falls, SD, Paul (Robyn) Runyan, Shiloh, IL and Mark (Diane) Runyan Belleville, IL; 12 grandchildren, Catherine (Steve) Wilson, Columbia, SC, Phil (Deb) Runyan, Omaha, NE, Greg (Hilary) Runyan, Shakopee, MN, Emily Runyan, Andover, KS, Elizabeth (Dean) DeVries, Wichita, KS, Todd (Tricia) Runyan, Sioux Falls, SD, Damon (Joslyn) Runyan, St. Louis Park, MN, Jeff (Brooke) Runyan, Lincoln, NE, Jon Runyan, Sioux Falls, SD, Peter Runyan, Lincoln, NE, Megan Runyan, Belleville, IL and Jared (Kristin) Runyan, Belleville, IL; 20 great grandchildren, 1 great, great granddaughter; and many other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband and her sister Irene.

A funeral service will be held 10:00 AM, Saturday, July 22, 2017 at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Beresford. A private family burial at Emmanuel Lutheran Cemetery will precede funeral services. Visitation with family present will be Friday from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Wass Funeral Home in Beresford.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Bethesda Nursing Home, Beresford, SD