Evelyn Graff

Twin girls were born November 10, 1918, to William and Adeline (Henning) Schmakel, in Waconia, MN. Evelyn Laura and Evadine Bertha were the oldest of nine children. In 1921 William and Adeline had the sadness of losing their daughter, Evadine, to scarlet fever. Evelyn had four more sisters and three brothers: Myra, Lila, Willard, Gary, William, Darlene and Leora.

Evelyn was confirmed in the Lutheran Church in Waconia where she had been baptized. She attended Lutheran school in Mayer, MN for one year and the Waconia public school through eighth grade. Following her schooling she stayed at home to help care for her siblings and to work on the farm. There were always jobs to do. She helped her mother with the chickens, ducks, and geese. Every morning before school and every evening there were cows to milk by hand. Both, she and her mother, worked with Evelyn's father in the fields when they were needed. Her father eventually bought a tavern in Howard Lake, and Evelyn was glad to get off the farm. Her parents would get together with friends to play cards, and on one of these weekends, Evelyn and Clarence Hyatt met each other.

On July 9, 1935 Evelyn Schmakel and Clarence Hyatt were married in Buffalo, MN. Clarence worked in a roofing warehouse in St. Paul. They were the parents of three boys: Henry, Darwin, and Darryl. In St. Paul, Evelyn did office work for Brown and Bigelow and also for a car insurance company. Her favorite job was working for Falcon Cleaners as a presser. Clarence died August 5, 1989. They had been married fifty-four years.

In 1990 Evelyn moved to Hoffman, MN, where her son Henry was living on a hobby farm. She attended Messiah Lutheran Church in Hoffman and became acquainted with a bachelor by the name of Dale Graff who was custodian of the church. Evelyn cleaned house for a woman who lived across the street from Dale and when Dale took his two aunts on an extended trip, it was convenient for him to ask Evelyn to house-sit his dog Mitzy while he was gone. It turned out that Mitzy could have been named "Cupid" because as time went on, and after Dale's three proposals on bended knee, Evelyn agreed to become Mrs. Dale Graff. On August 23, 1997 Evelyn and Dale were married at St. Petri Lutheran Church in rural Garfield by Pastor David Gran. Dale and Evelyn moved to Alexandria, MN in 1997 and are active members of First Lutheran Church.

Evelyn developed a reputation as an excellent baker and cook. Her lemon pie and chocolate chip pie got rave reviews. Dale's favorite meal is barbequed ribs and mashed potatoes; the grandchildren looked forward to her hunter's stew. Evelyn also enjoyed working in her garden with vegetables and flowers. She liked traveling with Dale and visited family in Montana. They also travelled to Alaska and Branson, MO. Evelyn's family was very special to her; she was proud of her children and they were proud of her. Family gatherings were something she looked forward to.

Volunteerism was very important to Evelyn. She was a volunteer for Meals on Wheels, the Senior Center in Hoffman and she fixed hair for the ladies at Hoffman Good Samaritan Care Center.

On Friday, July 15, 2016 Evelyn died at the age of ninety-seven years. She was preceded in death by her husband, Clarence Hyatt; all of her siblings; and one grandson, Mark Hyatt. Evelyn is survived by her husband, Dale Graff, three, sons, Henry Hyatt and wife, Arlou, of Alexandria, Darwin Hyatt and wife, Noelline, of Florida and Darryl Hyatt and wife, Judy, of Crookston, MN; ten grandchildren; nineteen great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held 11 AM Friday, July 22, 2016 at First Lutheran Church in Alexandria. Reverend Benjamin Jacobson will officiate. Interment in Kongsvinger Lutheran Cemetery at Donnelly, MN will be at a later date. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 PM Thursday at Anderson Funeral Home and also one hour prior to the service at church.

Arrangements are with the Anderson Funeral Home.