Ida Harmon, 91, of Williston, ND passed away on Friday, March 21, 2025 at the Bethel Lutheran Nursing and Rehabilitation Home in Williston, ND.

Ida Maud Harmon was born May 10, 1933, about 10 miles south of Charbonneau in McKenzie County. Her parents were Vida Fern (Wetherelt) and Joseph P. Lester. She was the fourth of eight siblings.

Ida spent her early years in and around Charbonneau, except for one year when her family moved to Troy, Idaho when she was 4 years old. Ida attended several one-room schoolhouses in the Charbonneau area through the eighth grade and then she took correspondence courses.

Ida worked hard her entire life. She began working at the early age of 10. She stayed with and worked for a Norwegian family for room and board so she could have a shorter walk to school. She moved to Williston when she was 17 where she worked for a couple as a live-in babysitter and horse feeder, then as a cook’s helper at the Curve Inn Café.

Ida married Duane (Dewey) Evanson on November 14, 1952 at Our Redeemers Lutheran Church in Williston. Ida and Dewey moved from Williston to Charbonneau, back to Williston, and on to Rawson between 1953 and 1957. They finally settled in Arnegard in 1960 where they raised four children.

Duane passed away in 1985, and in 1989 Ida married Robert Harmon. She and Robert continued to live in Arnegard. Ida worked at the Good Shepherd Home in Watford City until she retired, and in 2016 Ida and Robert moved to Golden Estates in Williston.

Ida volunteered in several activities. She was a 4-H leader and a Cub Scout den mother. She was a member of the Wilmington Ladies Aid, a charter member of the Eagles Auxiliary, and a Lioness with the Arnegard Lions Club.

Ida loved being outdoors. She worked hard to keep her flower beds looking nice, but her favorite outdoor pastime was fishing. Many summer days and weekends were spent at Arnegard Dam fishing for perch, Sather Dam fishing for trout, Yellowstone River fishing for catfish, and Tobacco Garden fishing for northern and walleye.

Ida also loved her arts and crafts. She was exceptional at crocheting, sewing, making jewelry, and quilting. Ida was one of the few people who knew how to tat lace. She enjoyed painting and everyone in the family has one of her creations. Ida loved being a part of the Wilmington Church quilting group. She lovingly made quilts for almost every member of her family.

Ida is survived by her children, Debra (Ken) Nelson of Dickinson, Barbara Evanson of Mandan, David (Penny) Evanson of Williston, and Tracy Evanson of Grand Forks; her grandchildren, Brian (Dawn) Nelson and Brent (Kayla) Nelson all of Dickinson, Valerie (Jason) McDaniel, and Jeremiah Evanson all of Williston, and Gabrielle Evanson of Grand Forks; her five great-grandsons, Logan Nelson, Conor and Evan McDaniel, and Daven and Erik Nelson. She is also survived by her sisters, Thelma Vrana of Upton, WY and Hazel (Dan) Brossman of Lander, WY; sister-in-law, Sammie Lester of Fairview, MT; and stepchildren, Ken (Jeanine) Harmon of Duluth, MN; Beverly (Dwight) Frank of Beulah, ND; and Sandra (Henry) Metzger of St. Paul, MN; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Ida is being welcomed into her heavenly home by her husband, Duane Evanson and her husband, Robert Harmon; siblings, Tom Lester and wife Ruth, Annie Tysver and husband Joe, Elsie Carstens and husband Ernie, Lloyd Lester and wife Charleen, and Joe “Merle” Lester and wife Bettie.

Memorial Contribution