Evelyn Casne, 92
Evelyn Casne, 92, "passed from this earth to her new heavenly home" at 8 p.m. Nov. 26, 2008. She died peacefully at the dinner table in the home of her son, Robert, on Camano Island, Wash. She died as she loved to live, surrounded by family and celebrating an evening meal. Evelyn Casne was born in Butte on June 6, 1916. She was the youngest of 11 children born to her parents, Peter and Elizabeth Sologub.
She received an eighth-grade education at the Elk Park School, just north of Butte. She grew up working on the family dairy farm in Elk Park. It was there that she met Sam Casne and they were married in Butte in 1936. Sam Casne worked in the Butte mines until their three sons were born.
Not wanting their sons to grow up to be Butte miners, Sam and Evelyn Casne bought a small farm in 1945 in the Flathead Valley, and they and their three young sons moved to the Kalispell area. Evelyn and Sam raised their family there. Evelyn assisted with the family dairy farming effort and also became very active in the Birch Grove School community, the Birch Grove Willing Workers Club, the Farmers Union, the REA, Saint Mathew's Church, and the Risen Christ Church. She served in officer positions for many of those organizations, and was very active in community activities.
When her sons went off to college, Evelyn went to work providing janitorial services at Glacier Park International Airport. She continued serving in that capacity until she retired from service at the age of 70.
Evelyn also made and decorated cakes for weddings and special occasions. Her cakes were renowned throughout the Flathead Valley for tasting as good as they looked.
Evelyn did not retire into quiet obscurity. She continued to remain active in family, church and community activities in the Flathead Valley until she was 90 years old.
In her later years, she was the primary caregiver for Sam Casne. After Sam passed away in 2002, she remained on the family farm until November 2006, when she moved to Camano Island, Wash.
Evelyn Casne was a woman small in stature, but mighty in spirit, with a very warm, loving heart. She connected intimately to all with whom she came in contact. She loved being around and with people.
She had a deep, abiding faith in God and she passed that source of infinite love through to all she came in contact with. Evelyn enjoyed laughter. She was always ready to tell a little humorous story to willing listeners. As she proceeded into her '90s, her slogan was, "Growing old is not for sissies." Evelyn, though the youngest, was the nucleus of a very large Sologub family. She was the instigator of repeating family reunions. She always encouraged a sharing of talent in a skit or performance by family members for the enjoyment of all.
Evelyn was preceded in death by her husband, Sam Casne; and her eldest son, Edward Casne, of Helena.
She is survived by her sister, Lillian Cortner, of Spokane, who is 95; her immediate family, Robert and Janet Casne of Camano Island, Samuel and Martha Casne of Seattle, and daughter-in-law, Patti Casne, of Helena; as well as 10 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
Friends and family are invited to celebrate Evelyn's life. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 11, at Risen Christ Catholic Church. Interment will be afterward at Glacier Memorial Gardens. A rosary and vigil service will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 10, at Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home.
The family requests, in lieu of flowers, that donations be made to the Birch Grove Community Center, c/o Ruth Bushby, 479 Birch Grove Drive, Kalispell, MT 59901.
Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for Evelyn's family. You are invited to go to www.jgfuneralhome.com to offer condolences and sign Evelyn's guest book.