John Brent Evenson

John Brent Evenson, 80, a lifelong Crookston, Minnesota resident, died Friday evening January 24, 2025.

John was born on March 6, 1944, the youngest of three children in the union of J. Meredith Evenson and Ione (Mossefin) Evenson. During the hospitalization of his birthing, his right eye became injured. Seeing with just one eye helped make him a better photographer later in life.

John was baptized and confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church in Crookston and graduated from Crookston Central High School in 1962. There he was involved in plays, glee club, football and wrestling.

During the weekend of Woodstock, John was united in marriage to Carol Jean “Cookie” Arness, on August 16, 1969, at St. Anne’s. Their marriage would be blessed by the births of two sons, Brent and Daniel.

John attended some engineering school at the University of North Dakota and worked for a couple of firms including Widseth Smith Nolting Engineering as a technician. After developing a severe tremor in his left arm, he used his gifts in other lines of work. Throughout the years he had many diverse jobs. From selling fountain products, to spotting newspapers for the Grand Forks Herald, to managing The Cooler arcade game room, to being the photographer for the Diocese of Crookston, to making deliveries to CVC, and bringing the beets in from the field at harvest time.

John became Catholic in the mid 1970’s and was a devout member of St. Anne’s and later the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. He and Cookie were passionate about Marriage Preparation and Sacrificial Giving. They facilitated Engaged Encounter retreats and gave presentations on Sacrificial Giving throughout the country. They didn’t just talk the talk. They lived it! They, along with five other couples, started an Ecumenical Thanksgiving Dinner in 1979 that is still going. Its purpose was to provide a place and a meal for those that didn’t have a place to go for Thanksgiving.

At home, John took care of the “G” s: Gas, Garbage, Grass, Groceries, and Grilling.

Things which gave John great joy were when he and Cookie would go visit loved relatives in Barnum, Minnesota, spending time with his grandkids, seeing the Vikings pull out a win, and when his marinated pork tenderloin hits the grill!

In the last months of his life, John wasn’t able to get out of the house much. He greatly appreciated being able to receive the Eucharist at home.

John and Cookie shared over 52 years of marriage that was founded in faith, love, and mutual respect.

John is survived by his son Brent and his wife Erika (Altepeter) Evenson of Grand Forks, North Dakota, and much-loved grandchildren: Kryton Mesrour, Silas Evenson, Vera Evenson, and Caleb Evenson.

John is preceded in death by his wife Cookie, his son Danny, his mother Ione, his father J. Meredith, and sisters Betty and Noni.

May God bless the memory of John Evenson.

 A prayer service for John will be held on Thursday, January 30, 2025, at 7:00pm, with visitation held two hours prior at Stenshoel-Houske Funeral Home in Crookston. The Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Friday, January 31, 2025, at the Cathedral of Immaculate Conception at 2:00pm, visitation with the family will be held one-hour prior to the Mass. Inurnment will take place at a later date in the Spring. Services will be livestreamed, the link to which can be found by going to www.stenshoelhouske.com/obituaries and following the prompts to John’s page.