Burnice Catherine Everson

Burnice Mayfield Everson, 92, of Hawley, MN, passed away Friday October 7, 2022, peacefully with her daughter Elaine at home. She was born on September 16, 1930, to Gladys (Skogen) and Clarence Mayfield in Pelican Rapids, MN. She attended rural District #3 near Rollag, MN, which was a 3 mile walk from her home. Since there was no road, she walked every day. Often skiing on her uncles homemade 6-foot skis. In the winter of 1936, she missed so much school that she had to make up 1^st grade. She was the pitcher for the softball team at noon and the boys had to wait for her to finish her lunch before they could play. She had a wonderful childhood growing up on a small farm by Rollag, enjoying the woods by Mayfield Lake. She had one old gentle cow that was hers to milk at the age of 5. Getting a baby brother, Cliff, was the best present she ever got.

Burnice loved school and wanted to go to high school, but the family could not afford to board her in town, so she graduated from the 8^th grade there. She spoke only Norwegian when she started but that was not a problem as many students and the teacher also spoke it. She spoke so well that when she went to Norway they asked when she left Norway, she was 2^nd generation. Burnice was an excellent cook and baker. She made all the old-time traditional foods that she learned from her mother and grandmother, keeping her 100 percent Norwegian heritage alive.

In those days it was common to work out as a hired girl and she did that for several years. In 1950, Burnice married the love of her life, Eddie Everson, and moved to his farm just 4 miles west, where she lived the rest of her life. When her father-in-law became bedridden, she cared for him for 4 years. Having a big garden, canning, and helping with the farm work kept her busy.

She was active in the Ladies Aid and Rollag Lutheran Church, where she was an officer the first year, they served at WMSTR. They boiled the coffee at the Church and brought it to the hill to serve. Her and Eddie were very active in WMSTR and she and her mother, with area ladies, decided that they needed to have an exhibit in the Pioneer Cabin by the lake. It had been moved there as an exhibit of the early settlers. Her father was born in it as it was a place where new immigrants stayed until they found a place. They fired up the wood stove and made Rommegrot, a Norwegian treat. Today, several area churches serve it in their stands. An excellent seamstress, she made a lot of bonnets and Prairie dresses   to wear for herself and daughter and to be donated to the boutique there, and almost all of her and Elaine’s clothes for years. She and several church ladies made quilts to donate. She used a 1920 singer treadle machine.

Living on a small farm, extra income was needed so in 1966, she went to work at American Lien in Fargo for 33 years. Her and Eddie loved to Volksmarch and over the years walked 2,300 miles in many 20k walks in several states and in Norway. An active member of the Sons of Norway, WMSTR,Rollag Lutheran Church, and Rollag Seniors, where she served as secretary for several years.

When she retired, she was the one that visited the older ladies in the area, bringing them flowers and baked goods. Her dream to go to Norway to see where her relations came from came true and she went 3 times, finding relatives and walking on the ground where they had lived. She lived in her house until 4 years ago when she moved in with her daughter and they were blessed to enjoy each day together. She   recently had a great birthday week.

Burnice is survived by her daughter, Elaine Everson. She is preceded in death by her husband; parents; brother, Clifford Mayfield; son-in-law, Jerry Swedberg; and baby daughter, Gloria.

There will be no funeral services. Elaine wishes to thank Hospice of the Red River Valley for their help these last days, along with friends and neighbors that have made these years good with visits. Special thanks to the Swenson kids, Oliver, Corban, and Tody for bringing her joy, reading to her, playing games, and making her laugh these last 4 years while she was home bound due to arthritis. Thanks to Teri Giere, for the haircuts and treats, and for Connie Erdmann for always being there for her and Elaine and to Jamin Krause for all the fun and help. For everything there is a season, hers was long and full.