Evelyn Zell, age 97, of Huron, formerly of rural Cavour, SD, died Wednesday, January 26, 2011, at SunQuest Healthcare Center in Huron.

Her funeral service will be 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, February 1, at Immanuel Lutheran Church, rural Iroquois, with burial in the church cemetery.

Visitation will be Monday from 1-8 p.m. at Welter Funeral Home with the family present from 6-8 p.m. and a Prayer Service at 6:30 p.m.; or Tuesday afternoon one hour prior to the service.

Evelyn Zell was born Phyllis Evelyn Berquist, daughter of Albert and Edith (Wold) Berquist, in Vegreville, Alberta, Canada. She was baptized in Vegreville on December 23, 1913. When she was about four years old the family moved to South Dakota.

She was confirmed at American Lutheran Church in Huron. She graduated from Huron High School, attended Huron College and then taught in rural schools for five years prior to her marriage.

On June 9, 1937, Evelyn married Bernard Ben Zell in Bancroft, SD. They lived in Huron during the first six years of their marriage and then bought a farm in Pearl Creek Township, Beadle County, rural Cavour, SD.

She was a homemaker, an assistant 4-H leader, and a member of an extension club. She was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church, rural Iroquois, and taught Sunday School for twenty years, nine of which she served as Sunday School Superintendent. She was also very active in the church womens group. She enjoyed reading, traveling in their motor home, and wintering in Texas.

In 1984, she became a member of the Huron Senior Center, and RSVP volunteering in different areas. For ten years Evelyn volunteered at the Washington Elementary School helping first and second grade pupils with their reading; and also working in the library.

In 2000, Evelyn moved from the farm to an apartment in Huron. In 2001, she moved to SunQuest Village, and then to SunQuest Healthcare Center in 2007.

She is survived by two children, Jim (Millie) Zell of Cavour, SD, and Linda (Ken) Halvorson of Coupeville, WA; seven grandsons, Mike (Kim) Halvorson of Seattle, WA, Jon (Chris) Halvorson of Olympia, WA, Dan (Lesli) Halvorson of Fort Worth, TX, Andy Zell of Cavour, Eric (Windy) Zell of Cavour, Jeremy (Sara) Zell of Stockholm, Sweden, and Adam Zell of Brookings, SD; thirteen great grandchildren; seven sisters-in-law; five brothers-in-law; many nieces and nephews.

Evelyn was preceded in death by her husband, Ben on January 1, 1984; two brothers, Basil Berquist and Delbert Berquist; and a sister, Ethelyn Adams.