Noel Evans

Dr. Noel A. Evans, 74, of Red Wing, died Monday, August 1, 2011 at his home. He was born on October 29, 1936 in Eau Claire, Wisconsin to Noble and Myrtle (Hovey) Evans. The family lived in Mondovi, Wisconsin until 1948 when they moved to Red Wing. He graduated from Red Wing Central High School in 1954. During his high school years he lettered in football and baseball, sang in the choir and was co-manager for the Varsity basketball team. He was a member of the Fife, Jug and Bottle Band and senior class Vice President. He attended St. Olaf College from 1954 to 1956 with a pre-dental major and lettered in baseball. He continued on to the University of Minnesota receiving his B.S. and D.D.S. degrees in 1960. He was president of the Delta Sigma Delta Dental Fraternity. On June 25, 1960 he was united in marriage to Alberta Dean at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Minneapolis. Noel then served in the US Air Force from 1960 -1962 serving in the Dental Corps receiving the rank of Captain. After his discharge he returned to Red Wing and practiced Dentistry from 1962 to 1997. For 20 of those years he did Dentistry for the Vasa Children's Home. He owned the Outdoor Store from 1974-1985. After his retirement from Dentistry he worked in sales for Sturdiwheat, for the Red Wing Post Office as a substitute rural mail carrier, for the City of Red Wing, mowing lawn at Oakwood Cemetery and was a funeral assistant with Mahn Family Funeral Home. Noel was an active member of United Lutheran Church where he served as usher, taught Sunday school for 25 years, sang in the Choir, served on the Men's Cooking Team, Church Council, Men and Mission group, was a former Youth Advisor, and was a Bethel Bible teacher. Noel was a member of the American Dental Association, Minnesota Dental Association, SE Minnesota Dental Association and the Goodhue County and Red Wing Dental Societies. He served on the Red Wing School Board from 1975 to 1981, serving as Chairman from 1980-1981. Noel was a member of the Red Wing Lions Club, receiving the Melvin Jones Fellow, Helen Keller Sight, Presidents and Lion of the Year Awards, a member of the Leo C. Peterson American Legion Post #54 and a past member of the Kiwanis Club. Noel was the founder of The Roundy Club and was active in sports in the community. He played for the Red Wing Aces Baseball Team from 1955-1960, coached Little League Baseball and was a charter member of the Red Wing Amateur Hockey Association where he helped organize the efforts to construct Bergwall Arena. Noel received the Red Wing Jaycee "Young Man of the Year" award in 1966 and received the Paul Harris Award from the Red Wing Rotary Club in 2010. He was inducted in the Wall of Honor in 2001 at the Red Wing High School. Noel constructed the Sunny Club Neighborhood Hillside Christmas display and organized the neighborhood annual luminaries display. Noel enjoyed spending time with family and friends and was a kind and gracious person with a great smile.

Noel is survived by his wife Alberta; three children, Erik of Cave Creek, Ariz., Carrie (Todd) Flankey of East Bethel and Andrew (Melissa) of Lakeville; three grandsons, Ethan, Levi and Gavin Evans; one sister, Audrey (Comer) Groe of Lake Mills, Iowa and one sister-in-law, Sandy (Bob) Nickelson of Lindstrom; several nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents.

Funeral will be 11 a.m. Friday at United Lutheran Church with Rev. Steve Timm officiating. Burial will be in the Burnside Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday at the Mahn Family Funeral Home, Bodelson-Mahn Chapel and at the church for one hour prior to the service. Memorials are preferred to Fairview Red Wing Hospice, Minnesota Lions Eye Bank or United Lutheran Church.