Evelyn F. Roland

Evelyn Fern (Smith) Roland, 96, of Seneca, Kansas, died on Sunday, December 1, 2024, at the Apostolic Christian Home in Sabetha, Kansas.

Evelyn was born on February 6, 1928, the daughter of Roy and Lola (Schmidt) Smith, northeast of Humboldt, Nebraska. She graduated in May 1945, from Humboldt High School in Humboldt with a normal training certificate. She taught in rural Richardson County Nebraska for three years. 

Evelyn married Herbert “Dale” Roland on June 25, 1948, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church north of Falls City, Nebraska. They lived in Shubert, Nebraska, Verdon, Nebraska, and Falls City, Nebraska area before moving near Bern, Kansas in the fall of 1958. Then moved into the city of Bern in the fall of 1963. They were married for 53 ½ years. 

She worked at the Bern Locker Plant and was a teacher’s assistant at the Bern Elementary School. In 1970, Evelyn and Dale moved to Seneca, Kansas, where she was secretary/bookkeeper for the Nemaha County Weed Department for 20 years, retiring in 1990. Evelyn was a member of the Seneca United Methodist Church. She was president of the United Methodist Women’s Group for six years, and she also served terms as vice president and secretary. She enjoyed visiting her family, going on spontaneous trips with her husband, doing cross stitch, and other crafts.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Dale, on January 23, 2002; three brothers, Roy Smith, Jr., Lee Smith, and Max Smith; two sisters, Vivian Beeghly and Sue Snyder; and a grandson, Tyler Roland. 

She is survived by her children, Carol (Bill) Sloan of Topeka, Kansas, Dan Roland of Gypsum, Colorado, Ken Roland of Sabetha, Kansas, and David (Kathy) Roland of Tecumseh, Kansas; one sister, Marguerite Hiskey Wenger of Hiawatha, Kansas; two sisters-in-laws, Barb Smith of Panama City, Florida and Norma Lee Roland of Elkhorn, Nebraska; ten granddaughters and two grandsons; 23 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.

Everlyn will lie in state at the Popkess Memorial Chapel on Friday, December 6, 2024, from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. A visitation will be held on Friday, December 6, 2024, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Popkess Memorial Chapel. A graveside service will be held on Saturday, December 7, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. at the Seneca City Cemetery. Casket bearers will be her grandchildren, Cara Sloan-Ramos, Wade Sloan, Paula Jameson, Michelle Dalinghaus, Shayla Oram, Trista Roland, Shane Roland, Chase Roland, Melissa Roland, Heather Perry, Kelli Thomas, and Casey Kopp. Memorial contributions are suggested to the Seneca Public Library sent in care of Popkess Memorial Chapel, 814 Castle Street, Seneca, Kansas 66538.