Mrs. Irene Cromwell passed from this life on Jan. 29, 2013 at Big Bend Hospice House in Tallahassee, Fla., at the age of 96.
She was born at the Evenson family farm in Richland County, N.D., the second of four daughters born to Helmer and Auslag Evenson. From an early age Irene demonstrated a great love for the land and became the principal family helper to her father in the planting, care and harvesting of the farm’s crops and animals. She was intensely interested in many activities, such as gardening, photography, reading, sewing, golf, swimming, music and cooking as well as school clubs and the Lutheran Church. She loved to travel and wrote colorful, detailed narratives of her trips accompanied by her photographs. In 1947, she met her future husband, Charles “Jack” Cromwell on a troop ship enroute to Okinawa, where they were both civilian employees of the U.S. government. While on board she entertained the troops, playing songs on her accordion and became known as “lovely Irene with her strolling accordion”. They honeymooned in Shangai before returning to Okinawa. In early 1948 she returned to North Dakota to give birth to their first child. Jack returned from Okinawa in late 1948 and entered the University of Chicago while working nights to support the family. He was recalled into the military to serve in Korea in 1952. After his return to the U.S., the family moved frequently to accommodate Jack’s career with the Federal Civil Service.Irene used imagination and love to create warm, comfortable homes for them in 18 different places. Their favorite and longest stay was in Fairhope, Ala., on Mobile Bay. In 1987, the Cromwells moved to Tallahassee, Fla., to be near family. Irene created another lovely home with beautiful gardens and they lived there together until Jack’s death in 1992. She was a very independent person who continued to live in her home with two beloved cats, Sherman and Pete, until 2010, when she moved to an assisted living residence near her daughter and son-in-law. Left to enjoy her memory are her son, Charles Evenson Cromwell (Marie) of Kent, Wash.; daughter, Deberah Cromwell Keith (Paul) of Havana, Fla; three granddaughters, Kelly E. Keith of Tallahassee, Fla; Jessica K. Fay (Jon) of West Palm Beach; Fla., and Maranda Eve Cromwell of Kent, Washington; sister Doris Langseth (Russ) of Battle Lake, Minn; four nephews, one niece and their children and grandchildren, and numerous beloved cousins. She will be remembered for her generosity, curiosity, energy, creativity, and loving spirit by all who knew her. A memorial service will be held in the Spring with cremains to be interred in the Evenson family plot in Wahpeton, N.D. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be may be made to The Big Bend Hospice, 1723 Mahan Center Blvd, Tallahassee, Florida 32308.
