Evelyn Piper

Evelyn P. Piper, age 96 of Faribault, MN died peacefully, surrounded by her family Sunday, April 2nd, 2017 at Piper's Good Tidings Home for Seniors in Cannon City Township.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, April 10, 2017 at 11:00 am at the Divine Mercy Catholic Church, 139 Mercy Drive in Faribault with Fr. Kevin Kenney officiating. Interment will be held at St. Lawrence Cemetery, Faribault.

Memorial visitation will be held at the church on Monday morning from 9:30 to 11:00 am.

Arrangements are being completed by the Parker Kohl Funeral Home & Crematory of Faribault.

Evelyn Philamon DuChene was born on January 6, 1921 to Ferdinand and Louise (Forcelle) DuChene in Shieldsville Township, Rice County, MN. Her childhood was spent in rural Faribault and the Shieldsville/French Lake area. After moving to town, she attended Lincoln School at an early age because her older sister would not go to school without Evelyn by her side. She also attended Faribault High School in her teen years. On September 24, 1941 she married Robert Piper and moved to the Piper family farm in Cannon City, where she lived for over 70 years. Eve was never comfortable in the spotlight, so while Bob farmed, worked in town and attended to several civic duties she was always working tirelessly behind the scenes to keep the farmstead operating efficiently.

While on the farm, Eve was in charge of hundreds of chickens. Every day she collected and cleaned the many eggs. She was very proud that in the span of 5 years she and Bob had collected, cleaned, sorted, boxed and sold enough eggs to pay off the family farm. With no running water or electricity in the early years, Eve worked very hard. She often talked about how she heated water in her copper boiler on the wood burning stove just to wash clothes. Throughout her early years on the farm Eve kept her family and the chickens well fed and housed. Occasionally, she took on the task of feeding a group of thrashers who came to help. She gardened and canned the majority of the family's food. She was very proud of her family and their farm.

Eve enjoyed spending time with her family. With them, she went on numerous vacations and camping trips around the country. She enjoyed sewing and managed to make a few quilts in her later years. She enjoyed playing cards and reminiscing with friends and family. She especially loved to teach and play Euchre with the grand, and great-grandchildren. She was a lifelong member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church.

Eve is survived by her son, Dennis (and Kathy) Piper of Faribault, by her daughter, Sharon Langeslag of Eden Prairie, by six grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren and other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband Bob in 2001, by her parents, two brothers, Wilfred (Duke) DuChene, and Donald DuChene, and by one sister Irene Haugen.