Evelyn Marguerite Reese, 99, of Grand Rapids, Minn., died peacefully on July 28, 2011, at St. Joseph's Hospital in Park Rapids, Minn. She was born in, North Dakota and graduated from Park Rapids High School and Duluth State Teachers College. Evelyn married Llewellyn A. Reese of Park Rapids, on August 17, 1936, in Grand Rapids. Evelyn was a natural born leader, giving generously of her time and talents to all those endeavors that she was involved in, from teaching in a one-room school house, serving as Grand Rapids' first Welcome Wagon Hostess, serving as the first woman moderator of the Duluth Presbytery (Community Presbyterian Church), and visiting every state in the nation while an officer with the International Association of Rebekah Assemblies. She was a devoted and life-long member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Rebekahs and served as president of the Minnesota Rebekah Assembly and president of the International Association of Rebekah Assemblies. She served on the Board of Directors of the Odd Fellows Home in Northfield, MN. She was known for her warm smile and timely sense of humor, and took pride in having been named "Humorist" for her local PEO chapter, a national philanthropic organization. A life-long member of Community Presbyterian Church, she served as a deacon, elder, teacher, and choir member. She was a Girl Scout leader and served on the Northern Lakes Girl Scout Council. She was an avid traveler, voracious reader, excellent cook, and excelled at knitting and crotcheting. She is survived by three children, Diane (Don) Balk of Mounds View, Minn., Joy (Jack) Derr of Braddock Heights, Maryland; and David (Pam) Reese of Grand Rapids; Ten grandchildren, Michael (Julia Lukas) Balk of Bath, Penn., Staci (Jeff) Balk Taylor of Cohasset, Minn., Sara (Jon) Balk Bolen of Grand Rapids, Kathryn (Tyler) Balk Erlandsen of Le Sueur, Minn., David (Martha) Derr of Johannesburg, South Africa, Elizabeth (Matt) Derr Schultz of Princeton Junction, New Jersey, Andrew (Molly) Derr of Middletown, Maryland, Amy (John) Derr Hodges of Bristow, Virginia, Jill Janecek of Grand Rapids, and Heather Harmon of Waynesville, Missouri. To her 25 great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and extended family, she was "amazing and awesome." She often credited the summer cabin that she and Lew built in 1960 on Long Lake, near Park Rapids, (Reese's Retreat), for bringing her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren together, forging bonds of love that crossed the generations. Visitation: 5:00 "€" 7:00 pm on Tuesday, August 2 in the Libbey Funeral Home. Funeral Service: 11:00 am Wednesday August 3 at Community Presbyterian Church in Grand Rapids. Burial: Itasca-Calvary Cemetery, Grand Rapids. Memorials in memory of Evelyn may be made to Community Presbyterian Church or a charity of the donor's choosing. Libbey Funeral Home, Grand Rapids. "Serving the Family for Generations" 218-326-4000.