Eva Mae Vigdal Waller, age 98, of Grand Rapids, MN, passed away Saturday, July 20, 2024, at River Grand in Grand Rapids, MN.

Eva was born on August 16, 1925, in Jerico, IA to Carl Oscar and Sibyl Louise Vigdal. She grew up on the family farm without electricity for most of her childhood. Life was different back then. The bathroom was outdoors, everyone walked to school because there were no buses, and they canned or preserved almost all of their food. The social life of the entire community revolved around church. School days were filled with memorization, mental math, phonics, flash cards, and school programs like spelling bees and musical performances. Eva enjoyed piano lessons as a girl and later played in the high school band. She completed country school through 8th grade and then boarded in town to graduate from high school in New Hampton, IA. She taught country school briefly before attending the Fairview School of Nursing in Minneapolis, MN and graduated as an RN.

In Minneapolis, she began to date Paul R. Waller, an engineering student at the University of Minnesota. They enjoyed attending dances together. They were married September 21, 1952 at Jerico Lutheran Church where she was baptized and confirmed. In 1953 they moved to Grand Rapids, MN where Paul went to work for United States Steel. They raised four children over the years, living in Chisholm for a stint, eventually returning to Grand Rapids and making it home. When the youngest, Martha, was 9, Eva began work as an RN at Itasca Memorial Hospital. She was an active member of the First Evangelical Lutheran Church, teaching Sunday School and singing in the choir. Eva and Paul enjoyed dancing, playing cards, gardening/preserving, and Sons of Norway (Scandinavian Singers) together. They maintained cabins on Bass Lake and the Kettle River.

Upon retirement, Eva continued her involvement with music playing weekly for Manor House where her mother, Sybil, lived, often taking a grandchild with to sit under the organ and work the foot pedals. She loved gardening, dried flower arrangements, and picking fruits and berries throughout the countryside to keep a steady supply of jams and jellies on hand. She and Paul drove many miles for garage sales, auctions, and estate sales. They both loved to go out to eat with family and friends, and travel to see grandkids out of state.

Eva will always be remembered for her generous spirit, devotion to her family and grandchildren, and the energy with which she followed her interests and passions. To every gathering she brought food, gifts, music, a keen interest in other people, along with her values and advice. We will remember to check the altitude of our attitudes and keep our bubbles level! She would be proud.

Eva is preceded in death by her husband, Paul; parents, Sybil and Oscar; brother, Lowell; and sisters-in-law, Jackie and Erna. She is survived by her children, Cynthia (Paul) Miltich, Alan, Richard (Kathy), and Martha (Mark) Bauder; 10 grandchildren;15 great-grandchildren; niece, Monda and various cousins.

A memorial service will be held, Monday, August 5, 2024, at 11:00 AM at First Evangelical Lutheran Church, Grand Rapids, Minnesota with a visitation beginning at 10:00 AM until the time of the service.  Rev. Dr. Patrick Lovejoy will officiate the memorial service.  Interment will be held in the Rosehill Cemetery in Hinckley, Minnesota.

Eva's service will be available to watch on Monday, August 5th at 11:00 AM  by clicking this link : https://youtube.com/live/_GCn0XZtpyE