Evelyn Sullinger

Evelyn Ingrid Sullinger, 69, Osage, Minnesota, went to be with Lord on Sunday, October 18, 2009 after a courageous battle with cancer at Emmanuel Nursing Home, Detroit Lakes, Minnesota.   Evelyn was born to William and Mary (Longfors) Pihlaja on February 11, 1940 in Shell Lake Township, rural Becker County, Minnesota. She attended country school in Shell Lake. As a young women, she worked in Chicago, IL at MacRaychr(39)s Plastic. She married Royce Sullinger on December 13, 1959. They raised three sons together.   Evelyn worked for Federal Cartridge in New Brighton, Minnesota and later moved her family back to Snellman, Minnesota. She became a USDA inspector for Swift Company in Detroit Lakes and Frazee, Minnesota. Upon the closing of Swift, she was employed at Heartland Foods in Marshall, Minnesota as a Quality Assurance Inspector. She retired in 2001 and moved back to Snellman.   Evelyn enjoyed family life, especially her children. She enjoyed hunting with her sons and attending her grandchildrenchr(39)s school and sporting events, especially watching her grandsons wrestle. Time with her sisters and brothers was also important to her and she enjoyed several vacations with them. Evelyn, always advocated for the less fortunate. She took much more delight in giving than receiving.   Evelyn is survived by her three sons, Marty (Geri) Sullinger of New Mexico; Mark (Sarah) Sullinger of Osage, Minnesota; Scott (Sandy) Sullinger of Osage, Minnesota; eleven grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; three sisters; Thelma Saarinen, Shirley Clements both of Osage, Minnesota; Nora (Delbert) Saarinen of Detroit Lakes, Minnesota; one brother, Roland (Darlene) Pihlaja of Osage, Minnesota; numerous nieces and nephews.   Evelyn was preceded in death by her parents, brother, Harold Pihlaga and two sisters, Verna Kangas and Mildred Kangas.