Evelyn Bancroft

Evelyn Ruth (Henning) Bancroft passed away Sunday, November 10, 2013 at the Regency Park Nursing and Rehab Center in Jefferson; she was 93 years, 10 months and 29 days.  Evelyn was the daughter of Vernon and Nellie (Mallett) Henning.  She was born December 12, 1919 in Scranton, Iowa.  Evelyn received her education in the Scranton schools and graduated in 1939.
On November 17, 1940 Evelyn was united in marriage to Clifford James Bancroft.  They were the parents of Luella and Vernon.  They started farming in 1941 northeast of Jefferson; in 1942 they moved to Carroll County near Glidden, IA.  In 1945, they moved to Webster County where they lived for seven years.  In 1951, they moved to a farm northeast of Paton, IA where they lived for 22 years.  While at Paton, Evelyn taught Sunday school and Bible School at the Methodist Church of which she was a member.
In 1973, Clifford and Evelyn retired from farming and moved to Jefferson where they lived for 36 years.  In March of 2009 they moved to the Gardens in Jefferson and then in March of 2010 they moved to Regency Park Nursing and Rehab Center in Jefferson.
Evelyn worked at the Green County Medical Center in Jefferson for 11 years in the dietary department.  She retired in December of 1984.  She was also an Auxiliary Volunteer at the Greene County Medical Center for a number of years.  She also worked at Deal’s Orchard for many years.
Evelyn enjoyed her home, family, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  She also enjoyed her garden while on the farm, as well as her flower gardens and house plants.  In her spare time she made quilts, did embroidering, and crocheting.  She made a lot of beautiful things for her family.  She also painted wooden ornaments for the yard that Clifford made.  She enjoyed watching the birds that would come to her bird feeders.  The bird that she liked the most was the cardinal.  She had a collection of cardinals.
Evelyn was a member of the Central Christian Church in Jefferson and CWF.
Evelyn was preceded in death by her parents, her husband of 69 years, Clifford on July 1, 2010, her twin brothers Ellis and Ivan Henning and her son-in-law Robert “Bob” Miller on November 17, 2010.  She is survived by her daughter Luella Miller of Boone, IA; her son Vernon (Corinne) Bancroft of Paton, IA; her granddaughter Lori (Dirk) Westrum of Stratford, IA; her grandson Jim (Jennifer) Miller of Cedar Rapids, IA; her great granddaughters Kelsey Westrum of Ames, IA, Taylor and Sydney Miller of Cedar Rapids, IA; and her great grandson Quinten Westrum of Fort Dodge, IA; her cousin Pauline Johnson of Jefferson, IA; sister-in-law Velma Henning of Scranton, IA; cousins; nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.
Funeral services were held Thursday, November 14, 2013 at 10:30 a.m., at Central Christian Church in Jefferson. Words of comfort were by Rev. Debra Griffin. Accompanist was Marilynn Hoskinson. Congregational songs chosen were When the Roll is Called Up Yonder and The Old Rugged Cross. Recorded music was played by Kindred Spirits, Heritage.  Interment took place at the Scranton Township Cemetery in Scranton, IA.
Honorary casket bearers were Kelsey Westrum, Quinten Westrum, Taylor Miller, and Sydney Miller. Casket bearers were Jim Miller, Dirk Westrum, Jerald Deal, Paul Carstensen, Kim Bates, and Kent Bates.