Evelyn J Rater

Evelyn J. Rater

Evelyn June Feick was born March 12, 1933 on the family farm southwest of Fontanelle to parents Edwin F. and Helen P. (Huntington) Feick. She passed into the arms of Jesus at Accura Healthcare in Carroll on Wednesday, April 24, 2019 at the age of 86.

Funeral services will be held at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Fontanelle on Friday, June 14 at 10:00am. The family will greet friends one hour prior to the service. Committal will be at the Fontanelle Cemetery with a Celebration of Life luncheon at the church immediately following.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home in Carroll. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.dahnandwoodhouse.com.

Evelyn graduated from Bridgewater-Fontanelle High School in 1951 and from Iowa Lutheran School of Nursing in Des Moines in 1954. She initially worked as a Registered Nurse in Chicago, Illinois; Tucson, Arizona; Atlantic, and Adair County.

Evelyn married Louis D. “Dan” Rater at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Fontanelle on March 2, 1957. To this union, five children were born: Ruth Ann, Risa Jane, Robert Daniel, RaeJean, and Ronald Neal. The couple divorced in 1972.

Evelyn later worked at Greene County Hospital in Jefferson; Municipal Hospital, Bethesda Care Center, and the Mental Health Institute (MHI) all in Clarinda. She was also a nurse in Maryville, Missouri; with Adams County (Iowa) Public Health, and at the hospital in Winterset.

Evelyn moved to West Des Moines in 1984. She worked at a nursing home in Altoona, Broadlawns Hospital in Des Moines, Woodward State Hospital, and the Iowa Veterans Home in Marshalltown. Evelyn enjoyed her work as a nurse in a variety of different settings. She officially retired in 2000, after 30 years with the State of Iowa.

Evelyn was preceded in death by her parents, Ed and Helen Feick; her ex-husband Dan; and her two sons Robert and Ronald Rater.

Evelyn is survived by her daughters Ruth Rater of Victorville, CA; Risa Rater of Vermillion, SD; and RaeJean (Tim) Lepird of Carroll. Grandchildren include Geoff Gonzalez of Tallahassee, FL; Patrick (Marisha) Gonzalez of Sherman Oaks, CA; Paul Gonzalez of Oceanside, CA; Stephanie Gonzalez of Atlanta, GA; Jeremiah (Catelyn) Lepird of Hastings, NE; Erin (Shawn) Rush of Norwalk; Joshua Lepird of Carroll; and Jordyn Lepird of Cedar Rapids. Great grandchildren are Locklyn Rush, Beckham Rush, Piper Lepird, and Leo Gonzalez.

Evelyn is also survived by five brothers including Dean (Ann) Feick and Richard (Dorene) Feick of Fontanelle, Cary Feick of Papatoetoe, New Zealand; Jerry Feick of Osage; Larry (Deb) Feick of Granger, and extended family including numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Evelyn will be remembered most for her unwavering faith, sharp wit, and independent spirit.