Obituary: Evelyn Tindell, one of first women to enter World War II

Evelyn Tindell's family knew that she had served overseas with the U.S. Army during World War II, but they didn't know much more.

Little by little over the past few years, Tindell had shared more — that she contracted tuberculosis during the war, that she sailed home on the Queen Mary, that she had earned medals for her service.

Her daughter Debbie Feldick said the biggest revelation came last year, when her mother was guest of honor during Veterans Day at her grandson's elementary school. That's when they found out that she was among the first women to be deployed to World War II.

"She was right there in the middle of it all," Feldick said. "We didn't know this. She just never shared this stuff before."

Tindell, 93, of Elk River, died Aug. 31.

Feldick said she always thought of her mother as "supermom."

"She loved to entertain, taught me to sew in kindergarten," she said. "She could walk into a room with strangers and make friends with anyone. She was really fun."

She served in France, Germany and England, and received four Bronze Stars for her service.

Feldick said that for many years, her mother said she didn't think her time overseas was worth talking about and said she was "not going to brag about it."

Carol Tindell, Evelyn's daughter-in-law, said she knew Evelyn had served in the war, but didn't realize she was among the first women to enter World War II. "She had done something important, and she was equally as important as all the men."

Scott Tindell said his mother volunteered to serve so she could move out of Owatonna. She went to Iowa for basic training and later to New York to learn how to be a communications specialist.

The Owatonna People's Press, her hometown newspaper, reported that she worked as a radio operator and also instructed men in how to become radio operators. One of her jobs during the war was to track U.S. planes' flights in dangerous areas.

Feldick said her mother met her father, Charles, after she left the service.

Upon meeting her, he said, "I'm going to marry you one day," Feldick said. "And they were married in a month ... for more than 30 years."

Feldick said her mother "loved to give food away to people. She would make these elaborate dishes … heartwarming dishes that are very Minnesotan."

Tindell was preceded in death by her husband, Charles, and a son, Dan. In addition to daughter Debbie and son Scott, she is survived by another daughter, Nancy Charpentier; two sisters, Darlene Laursen and Dee Arneson; a brother, Herb Krause; 12 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren. Services have been held.