Evelyn Grove

Evelyn Jane (Teal) Grove, 86, died on November 12, 2023, surrounded by family at the Barrett Care Center, in Barrett, Minnesota. She was born at home in Osakis, Minnesota to Archie Frank Teal, and Vivion Marie (Chamblin) Teal on December 23, 1936. Evelyn was baptized and confirmed in the United Methodist Church in Osakis, Minnesota. She graduated from Osakis High School in 1954. Evelyn married Clinton “Clint” Everett Grove on December 3, 1955. Four children were born to this union including Connie, Linda, Bill, and Robert “Bob.” Evelyn was the proud grandmother of 13 grandchildren including Matthew, Jacob, Justin, Ryan, Charles, Anthony, Timothy, Caleb, Billie Jo, Shannon, Lindsay, Alexandra, and Morgan. She had 13 great-grandchildren including Parker, Nolan, Hayley, Amber, Paton, Shelby, McKenzi, Lincoln, Monroe, Natalie, Everly, Charlie, and Collin. She had 1 great great-granddaughter Percy. She has a grand stepson Christopher, and two step-grandchildren Richard "Rick Jr." and Michelle "Shelly." Over the years Evelyn had a variety of pets but her favorite was her Pomeranian “Sandy.” Evelyn also went by the names, Evie, and Ev.

Work: After high school, she moved to Sauk Centre, Minnesota where she was a telephone switchboard operator before being transferred to Morris, Minnesota. After marrying Clinton, she moved to Barrett, and in 1960 moved to Elbow Lake, Minnesota where Clint had opened Clint’s Body Shop. Evelyn was the office girl and bookkeeper. She fondly said, “I billed the people, I collected the money, and deposited the money. I spent the money.”

Church/Organizations: After marrying Clinton in 1955, they became members of the Lincoln Lutheran Church just outside of Barrett, Minnesota, and after moving to Elbow Lake in 1960, became involved in the Lutheran Churches known as St. John’s and First Lutheran which later merged and became United Lutheran. Evelyn volunteered as a Sunday school teacher, release time teacher, and was involved with the Lady’s Aid groups over the years. Evelyn was a lifelong member of the American Legion Auxiliary, a member of the Grant County Veteran’s Memorial Support Organization, and a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). Evelyn was the treasurer and internment record keeper for the Union Cemetery Board. In her younger years she was involved with the local Jaycee organization, a homemakers group, the red hats, and a couple different motorhome groups.

Fun Facts: Evelyn was in a production of “Cheaper By the Dozen” in high school and decided that she wanted to have 12 children, however, later decided that 4 was enough, something about her first born daughter and first born son, giving her a run for her money.

Evelyn met Clint while she was working as a telephone switchboard operator in Morris. He caught her eye as they both would eat lunch at Shorty’s Café, but it wasn’t until they met at a dance at the Glenwood Ballroom after she had turned down a blind date. Turned out that the blind date was supposed to be Clint. Seven days later they were joking about getting married, and less than a year later, they were married during a snowstorm and moved into the house that Clint built. Evelyn loved to read, go to coffee parties with her friends, enjoyed her card clubs, playing board games, going on family camping trips, and golfing. After Clint retired, they enjoyed traveling with their motorhome groups, and spent winters in Florida. After 3 of their grandsons were killed in a crash, they spent the rest of their years together at home by the lake loving on their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Clint passed away on Sunday, June 14, 2015. They had been married for 59 and a half years. Shortly after Clint’s death, Evelyn moved into Elbow Lake for a short time before moving to Alexandria and eventually moved in with their daughter Linda for 3 plus years before moving into the Barrett Care Center. Evelyn was known to be on the lookout for other residents who might need assistance from the care center staff. Evelyn’s restlessness showed up during her short stay at the care center in that she had 3 different rooms in the short time that she lived at the care center. She said her next move would be moving home to be with Jesus.

Evelyn was preceded in death by her husband, Clinton Grove, her parents Archie Teal and Vivion (Chamblin) Teal, her siblings Beatrice (Teal) Nelson and Frank Teal, her grandsons Matthew, Jacob, and Justin Backstrom, and her daughter in-law Mary Doll Grove, and is survived by her children Connie (Nathan) Backstrom, Linda (Richard "Rick") Petty, Bill Grove, and Robert “Bob” (Joy) Grove; grandchildren Ryan (Rebecca “Becky”) Backstrom, Charles Backstrom, Anthony “Tony” (Anna) Maus, Timothy “Tim” (Ashley) Maus, Caleb (Jessica) Petty, Billie Jo (Chad Heidinger) Grove, Shannon (Michele) Grove, Lindsay (Blake) Barnett, Alexandra “Alex” (Jacob/Jake), Thorstad, and Morgan Grove; and step-grandsons Christopher “Chris” (Christina) Alfredson, Richard “Rick” Jr. Petty, and step-granddaughter Michelle, "Shelly" Petty; her great-grandchildren and great-great-granddaughter.

Memorial Service: 11:00 a.m., Friday, December 22, 2023, at United Lutheran Church in Elbow Lake, with a visitation one hour prior to the service.

Clergy: Pastor Jean Ohman

Interment: Union Cemetery, Elbow Lake, MN

Funeral arrangements are with the Erickson-Smith Funeral Home of Elbow Lake.