Evelyn Fornshell

Evelyn Fornshell  Billman, 90, of Pillager, passed away Saturday, August 08, 2009 at Whispering Pines Nursing Home in Pine River, MN. Funeral services for Evelyn are scheduled for 2 PM, Monday, August 17 at Brenny Funeral Chapel in Baxter with Pastor Julie Sutton  Deem officiating. Friends are welcome to gather one hour prior to services. Interment will follow at Evergreen Memorial Gardens. A reception will be held at the Brenny Funeral Chapel Reception Room.
Evelyn was born March 20, 1919 in Brainerd, the daughter of Charles and Pegny Gosse. She worked at St. Josephs Medical Center as a nurse for 20 years and while working there she met her husband, Leonard Fornshell. The couple was married August 22, 1967. She and Leonard then made their home in rural Pillager. There they owned and operated buses for 17 years. Leonard passed away November 25, 1985. She met Elmer Billman and they were life partners for 18 years and married on October 22, 2008 making their home in Pillager until her death. Evelyn was a member of First Evangelical Lutheran Church of Pillager and a life member of American Legion, Post # 53. She enjoyed crocheting, embroidering, cooking, gardening and traveling. She loved her family.

Evelyn is survived by her husband, Elmer; her son, Leland (Judy) Foy, of Brainerd; daughters, Geraldine (Dennis) Gallant, of Yelm, WA and Shirley (George) Britton, of Ely, MN; four step-daughters, Alexandria Noble, of Prior Lake, MN, Patricia (Cameron) Hedland, of Prior Lake, MN, Denise Billman, of Phoenix, AZ, and Debra Labrie, of Phoenix, AZ; sister-in-laws, Jeannette Fornshell, of Pillager, Dorothy Fornshell, of Pillager, Betty Farber, of Motley, and Aldene Gosse, of Brainred; seven grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; six great-great-grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her first husband, George Foy; her second husband, Leonard Fornshell; and her brother, Ernest Gosse.