Evelyn Nadine Starr was born September 23, 1937, in Eli, NE to Lloyd and Ruth Starr. Evelyn gained her wings on May 11, 2025, at Rock County Long Term Care.
She attended grade school at Connely Flats and graduated from Cody High School in 1955. Living south of Eli meant she lived in Cody during the week to attend high school.
In her senior year, on a blind date, she met a red headed shy guy, Robert Lower. They would marry on December 26, 1955. Robert (Bob) Lower went off to the Army and Evelyn taught school at Connely Flats.
When Bob returned home, they lived and worked for Gus and Laresta Wickman, and Don and Lois Simmons.
While working south of Eli, their first son, Kelvin, was born in 1958. In 1961, they moved to Valentine where they would soon have their second son, Ronald. Their family was complete with the birth of their daughter, Starla, in 1964.
Evelyn was a homemaker in the younger years of her children’s lives. In 1975, she went to work part time, then moved into fulltime jobs as her children got older. She retired in 1996 from the Farm Service Agency.
Evelyn had many talents: knitting, crocheting, cooking, but the talent that she was most proud of was her piano playing skills. She could literally play for hours and never look at a piece of sheet music.
She often told the story of her mom, saying she would do the dishes if Evelyn would go play the piano. Evelyn swore that her mom would just stand in the kitchen and just bang dishes so she would keep playing. Her dad would always ask her to play him a tune. She loved to play and would play for anyone that would ask. The last time she played was on her last birthday.
Evelyn’s family was her life, she loved Bob. They shared 69 years of devoted marriage. This love was passed onto their children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. We would all say she was the rock of the family, the glue that kept us together, the giver of hugs that were felt for days after. Many friends became part of the family, including Jack, Agnes, and Greg Anderson; Warren and Kelly Rockwell and family; Rudy and Diane Moravec and family; Tom and Barb Fisher.
Evelyn is preceded in death by her parents, Lloyd and Ruth Starr; father and mother in-law, Roy and Luella Lower; sister Ramona Cook, and her husband, Jack; brothers, Charlie Starr, Glen Starr and his wife Jeanie; in-laws, Ted Lower, his wife Vi; Jerry Lower, his wife Dixie, and wife Pauline; Charles Lower.
Evelyn is survived by her husband of 69 years, Robert (Bob) Lower; son Kelvin (Kathy), Spearfish, SD; son Ronald (Kathy), Valentine, NE; daughter Starla (Susan), North Platte, NE; grandchildren, Ryan (Holly) Lower, and their children Micah, Adaline, Nikola, and Milo; Tyler (Taylor) Lower; Rob (Rebecca) Lower and their children Ella, Rhett, Joy, and Rory; Kassi (Tyler) McCartney; sister in laws, Joan Starr and Virginia Lower; and many nieces and nephews.
Visitation was held from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. CST, Thursday May 15, 2025, at Valentine Methodist Church. Funeral Service was held at 11:00 a.m., CST Friday May 16, 2025, at Valentine Methodist Church.
The family requests memorials be made to Rock County Long Term Care, 100 East South Street, Bassett, NE, 68714. Private burial will be at a later date.
Sandoz Chapel of the Pines was entrusted with the funeral arrangements.
