Evelyn D Festge

WAUNAKEE - Evelyn Dybdahl Festge died peacefully at home on Wednesday, September 21, 2016.  She was born September 15, 1921 in the Town of Vermont, the youngest of ten children, to Albert and Thonetta (Anderson) Dybdahl.  She graduated from Black Earth High School in 1939, and earned a degree in elementary education from the University of Wisconsin Madison in 1964, the same year as her son Mike graduated from the UW. She married Otto Festge in 1942.  They had three children, Michael, Susan, and Cynthia.  She taught at Silver Springs Elementary School, and worked for a number of years at Gimbels Department Store. Mom followed and encouraged the abilities and activities of every child, grand- and great-grandchild with love and support.  Mom never wanted the attention to be on her, but celebrated everyone else's accomplishments.  At age 16 she began serving as the church organist at Vermont Lutheran Church.  She accompanied the Choral Union in Western Dane County, which was conducted by Dad.  She led the sing-alongs at our family Christmas parties, and their home was always filled with music. Mom also loved nature.  She left a legacy of hundreds of trees she personally planted on 80 acres of the former family farm and woodland she named the Double Forte.  She could identify many of the wild flowers on the dry, hillside prairie.  She picked berries and apples growing on the property, making delicious treats from them.  With her inspiration we built a stabbur on the Double Forte to honor her Norwegian heritage and help us remember ours.  She taught us to love, enjoy, and respect the land – to care for it for the generations to come.  She referred to "The Land Remembers" by Ben Logan, a Wisconsin author, as her mantra.  She and Dad donated the initial acreage of Festge County Park.  She tended her flower gardens, a beautiful, ever-blooming array.  She knew the name of every flower.  She supported Dad's ventures in public service and politics.  Mom ran campaign offices for Dad when he ran for Mayor of Madison, and for some of Bob Kastenmeier's congressional campaigns.  Mom was always current on what was happening locally, nationally, and around the world.  She was looking forward to voting for the first woman president.  Mom was a wonderful homemaker and hostess.  Their home welcomed everyone, from political dignitaries to immigrants who were trying to find their way in Madison.  She and Dad befriended foreign students at the UW.  She was an excellent baker, including making many Norwegian goodies.  Mom was very humble, didn't want to impose on anyone on her behalf, but always wanted to help others.  She volunteered making meals for the homeless and making quilts for Lutheran World Relief with the ladies at Midvale Lutheran Church.  She worked tirelessly for the Black Earth School with the PTA making and selling baked goods as a fundraiser for the Band Mothers.  She had an impressive memory, an enduring curiosity, and a love of learning.   She was a voracious reader of books, magazines, newspapers, church newsletters, and enjoyed solving word puzzles.  She and Dad traveled extensively in the United States and spent a number of winters in Arizona after retirement.  Relying on her clever use of words, she entered a contest and won a trip to Norway, a trip of a lifetime for her.  She was glad to be able to meet relatives there and see where her ancestors had lived.  She and Dad also enjoyed time in Germany visiting Festge family relatives.Evelyn is survived by son Michael (Doreen) Festge of Mequon and their children Kate (Michael) Ricaurte, Kristine (Andy) Jacobson, and Kurt (Jennifer Van Lue) Festge; daughter Sue (Dave) Hineline of Waunakee and their children Bob (Shannon Conaway) Hineline, Jenny (Josh) Saxman, and Gregg (Shalyn) Hineline; daughter Cindy (John) Regan of Deerfield and their children Zeke (Jessica) Regan, Joe Regan, and Erin (JB) Clark; 14 great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. Evelyn was preceded in death by her husband, Otto, in 2007; brothers Joe, Art, and Carl; sisters Thelma Sandley, Carrie Austinson, Emma Urness, Alice Olson, Valborg Braun, and Thora Byrge, as well as sisters- and brothers-in-law.  A Time of Remembrance will be held at VERMONT LUTHERAN CHURCH, 9886 Vermont Church Rd, Black Earth, at 11:00 AM on Saturday, October 22.  Visitation will be held on Saturday from 10:00 AM until the time of the service.  Inurnment will be at Forest Hill Cemetery, Madison at a later date.  The family would like to express their appreciation to Peggy Schmudlach and the staff at Waunakee Manor Assisted Living and to Dr. Noelle Dowling for their thoughtful care.  In lieu of flowers, please donate to your favorite charity.  Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com. Gunderson West Funeral & Cremation Care 7435 University Avenue (608)831-6761