Donald Evenson, Part II

       There is much more about Don's academic and scientific exploits but let's change focus. Our family connections go back to the 70s, no, not the 1970s, the 1870s. In the 1870s Don's great-grandfather, Gulbrand Evenson, and my grandfather, Olai Bergh, were neighboring farmers near Kasson, MN. Both had emigrated from the same area of Norway. Later they entered the seminary and remained friends as they studied to be pastors. Gulbrand is buried in the Bergh Cemetery near Volga, S.D., where Grandpa's church stood. He may have been pastor of the church from which Grandpa retired.

      Very much later my cousin, Leslie Negstad, married Don's aunt, Esther Evenson. Though Don and I grew up on farms about four miles apart we attended different country schools. In the early 50s we both needed orthodontia and got braces from the only orthodontist in South Dakota, who officed in Sioux Falls. Every three weeks we were scheduled to visit the orthodontist so our parents took turns driving us. In high school Don was two years behind me. After high school he attended Lutheran Bible Institute in Minneapolis and, with my stint in the Marines, we became classmates at Augustana graduating together in 1964. 

    Don, and his wife Carol, tired of life in New York so he joined the faculty at South Dakota State University, Brookings, in 1983. He was a professor of biochemistry. For many years they lived on his home farm near Sinai eventually moving to Brookings. This relocation to South Dakota allowed us to reconnect and since my retirement eighteen years ago we've had the opportunity to spend time together.

    Honored to lead his memorial service I will certainly miss him.

Takk for alt,

Al

Donald Evenson, October 30, 1940 - March 20, 2025

     Sinai boy succeeds!  Don graduated from Sinai High in 1958 and Augustana College in 1964, where we were classmates. He received a PhD in Cell and Molecular Biology in 1968, from the University of Colorado. This was followed by a two-year post doctoral study of mammalian DNA structure at the Institute of  Molecular Biophysics, Florida State University, then two years at the Union Carbide Research Institute, Tarrytown, NY, studying the DNA structure of the cancer virus. He then served a dual faculty appointment for eleven years at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and Cornell Graduate Center of Medical Sciences in New York City. During this time he studied the effects of chemotherapy on sperm quality. His invention of the Sperm Chromatin Structure Assay is now used around the world in numerous infertility clinics and for which he received a patent. 

   To be continued later because the blogger is tired. It was my privilege to preside at his funeral service today.  I'll preside tomorrow at the burial in Joanne's cemetery.

Takk for alt,

Al       

The Little House On The Prairie

      One of the realities of a certain age is the death of peers. Though Frode probably wasn't technically a peer, he certainly was a friend.  With him included I've lost four peers recently, two of whom died in their sleep. It's the funeral of one of those friends who has brought me to The Little House. His funeral is tomorrow with burial in Joanne's cemetery Monday. Wednesday I'll return to the OFH to attend the funeral Thursday of the other friend who died in his sleep. I'll write more about them in subsequent blogs. 

     This is the first visit to The Little House since I left before Christmas. All is well in the house and my neighbor even shoveled the little snowbank on the sidewalk. It's clear that Kaia remembers the routine here. After returning to the OFH I'll stay there through Easter and a bit beyond to celebrate a family birthday. There was a stretch about 100 miles to the east of the house where the ground was white with snow..

Takk for alt,

Al

The Little House with the green grass of summer.

Little to say today, too...

    With no original thought again this day perhaps a trip into the picture files for something that will trigger some reflections. There are two funerals next week which I'll write about after the fact. Peers are dying which the reality of a person of a certain age.

Takk for alt,

Al

This is the egg store near "my" house in Thailand. The store was about the size of a one stall garage and all they sold were eggs. The eggs were priced according to size, the larger the more expensive. Because they were not washed they didn't need refrigeration even in the tropical heat. When purchased they were put in a plastic bag. Sitting on the back of a motorcycle it was my job to hold them until we arrived at home and none were ever broken. At home Met would refrigerate them. Thai omelets are exceptionally good, perhaps becasue they were done in a wok?  Naturally, the omelet was served on a bed of rice.

Living in the past...

     With the quiet life in the OFH often there is not much to report. That's probably a good thing. With international travel a thing of the past travel stories are in my memory as are experiences in the Marines. If either of you get tired of the recall of memories tell me and perhaps I'll stop sharing. Then again, maybe I'll continue. 😀

Takk for alt,

Al

Have you ever seen Mt Fuji without snow? When we first arrived at this tent camp for cold weather training on the base of Mt. Fuji, it was snowless. This was about the first of November 1961. As the days passed snow arrived gradually giving the mountain its characteristic snow cap. The frequent changes to its visage accounts for me accumulating multitude pictures of it. I regret not attempting to climb it though it was officially closed for the season. It's 12,388 feet above sea level.

Choices

      Today was the follow-up appointment following cataract surgery. All's well and testing of my vision provided me with a prescription for new lenses. Since the surgery I see distance well but need glasses to read or use the computer. Surgery and follow-up were at Park Nicollet. With prescription in hand I went to the Park Nicollet vision center to order glasses.

    Under the impression that my health insurance would provide one set of glasses it was a surprise to learn, "No, they pay 20%." Uffda, I wasn't prepared for that. Retrieving my prescription I headed for the VA Medical Center which was even on my home. At the VA Eyeglass Store no one was waiting to be seen. Within 15 minutes glasses and frames were ordered to my specifications and the prescription from Park Nicollet. The new glasses will magically appear in my mailbox in two weeks. I'm blessed with choices!

Takk for alt,

Al

Guess what?

Joanne Elizabeth (Hanson) Negstad 4/1/1936-4/12/2018

     There's an interesting story about naming Joanne. Her parents intended to name her Martha Louise. Then Knut Lokken, her maternal grandfather, came to visit her in the hospital and the name changed. Upon meeting the baby grandpa said "How's my little Joanne Elizabeth?" So, that's how she acquired her name.

    The last birthday she celebrated, April 1, 2018, was also Easter Sunday. At home on hospice care she was unable to attend Easter Services. Our congregation, Grace University Lutheran, sang happy birthday to her during the Easter Service. Shown a recording of the congregation singing to her, her response was "I never knew dying could be so glorious!"  She died like she lived, full of gratitude.

   May God bless her memory, good and faithful servant! Rest in peace!

Takk for alt,

Al

Easter Dinner, April 1, 2018, the last time she was at the table with the family.