Evelyn Ruth (Wilson) Hilger

Evelyn Ruth (Wilson) Hilger was born April 10, 1937 in Chanute, KS.  She passed away on Friday, September 24, 2021, in Augusta, KS at the age of 84.  Evelyn was the daughter of Ira Verne Wilson and Julia (Palmer) Wilson.  
Evelyn grew up in the Chanute and Iola area.  She graduated from Stark High School in 1955.  Evelyn attended beauty school in Wichita, KS where she would meet her future sisters-in-law.  She later met her future husband, Martin Hilger, when he returned to the farm after his military service.  Martin and Evelyn were married on February 15, 1958. They began their married life in rural Mt. Hope before relocating to Oswego, KS.  He preceded her in death on August 7, 1993. 
To this union, eight children were born: Theresa (Kenny) Flach, Paxico; Edmund (Kim) of Ulysses; Leonard (Teresa) of Oswego; Becky (Don) Henry of Augusta; Phillip (Daneen) of Lecompton; Patrick (Clara) of Russell; Peter (Barb) of Chouteau, OK;  Katherine (Kurt) Davids of Topeka. Evelyn's legacy is her family, she had 35 grandchildren, 32 great grandchildren and 1 great- great grandson.  She is also survived by her brother Harold (Elaine) Wilson of Prattville, AL. 
Also preceding her in death were her parents, brother Kenneth Wilson, sisters Ellen Whitcomb and Norma Jean McCulley-Black, daughter-in-law Elaine Hilger and three great grandsons. 
When asked towards the end of her life what she did for a living she answered that she had worked at Dillon's.  While this was a small part of it, she spent her life as a farm wife and in various customer service positions through the years, including work for the postal service, as a school bus driver, realtor, hair dresser, and as a para-educator for USD 402.  Evelyn always did what needed to be done, she enjoyed being around people and she enjoyed serving those in the community around her.
Visitation will be held from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 30, 2021 with Rosary to begin at 7:00 p.m. all at St. James Catholic Church, Augusta. Funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, October 1, 2021 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Ost, 13015 E. Maple Grove Rd. Mount Hope, KS. Burial will follow at the church cemetery. Memorial donations to St. James Catholic Church, 1012 Belmont Avenue, Augusta, Kansas 67010; St. Joseph Catholic Church, Ost, 13015 E Maple Grove Rd, Mount Hope, KS 67108; or Unbound, 1 Elmwood Ave. Kansas City, KS 66103.