Evelyn Courtier Obituary

Evelyn Marie Albers Courtier, 99, passed away peacefully on Friday, May 6, 2016.
    Evelyn was a native of Lake City. Of German descent, she grew up speaking both English and German with her family. In the 1930s, Evelyn attended college at what is now known as Winona State University where she studied to be a librarian and a teacher, and where she met her future husband, Gilbert Courtier. After student teaching in Mountain Lake, Minn., she and Gilbert married on July 1, 1941, and eventually settled in Lake City.
    Evelyn taught English in the Lake City school system for many years.
    Together, Evelyn and Gil started Pepin Heights Orchard in 1949, on the beautiful bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River. They were also great travelers who visited Central America, Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, as well as numerous destinations throughout North America.
    Evelyn never truly retired from teaching. Even into her 90s, she spent weekends at the Pepin Heights store helping people sample different apple varieties. As she sat behind the tasting table, she frequently visited with former students and employees.
    Evelyn had a great love of natural beauty and was an avid gardener throughout her life, a love and skill she shared with her children and grandchildren. Her family remembers her as a woman of great toughness, independence and curiosity.
    Evelyn is survived by her daughter, Diane Courtier of Watkinsville, Ga.; her son, David (Dawn) Courtier of Red Wing; and her son, Dennis (Julia) Courtier of Lake City. She is also survived by her grandchildren and their spouses, Jessica Courtier, Phillip Courtier, Kate Hewson and Rina Courtier, of Madison, Wis.; Samuel Courtier of St. Paul; and Daniel Daly and Caroline Daly of Ashburn, Va. Evelyn had two great-grandchildren, Ione Courtier-Hewson and Leon Courtier, of Madison, Wis. She was preceded in death by her husband Gilbert.
    Funeral service was Monday, May 9 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Lake City with Rev. John Berg officiating.  Burial was at Bethany Cemetery.  
    Mahn Family Funeral Home, Anderson-Peterson Chapel in Lake City handled the funeral arrangements.  Online condolences can be left with the family at www.mahnfamilyfuneralhome.com.  In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Lake City Public Library, 201 South High Street, Lake City MN 55041.