Evelyn Ada “Bum” Goll, 97, of Phillipsburg, died on Friday, March 4, 2022, at her daughter and son-in-law’s home in Phillipsburg.
Memorial services will be on Saturday, March 26, at 10:30 at Zion Lutheran Church in Phillipsburg with Pastor Lee Bennight officiating. Bum and her husband, Burnell, will be laid to rest at Olive Branch Cemetery near Kensington following the luncheon and fellowship.
Evelyn Ada Madison was born on July 27, 1924, to William “Mackie” and Jessie (Christoffersen) Madison in Phillips County, KS. Her formative years were in Pudville where she attended the Gooder School and got her nickname Bum. Evelyn graduated from Kensington High School with the Class of 1944. Bum attended her 75th Class Reunion in 2019 where she was the oldest Goldbug in attendance.
Bum worked for Rietzke’s Grocery Store and Waite’s Sundrie in Kensington. She and Cleo Dressel were united in marriage on December 21, 1946. Cleo died on April 24, 1953. Bum and Burnell were married on August 18, 1955, in an outdoor ceremony by the parsonage of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Kensington. Bum played in a softball game that afternoon hitting a home run to win the game for her team. They celebrated 65 Years of Marriage Together in 2020.
Bum and Burnell moved to Pueblo, CO, for Burnell to attend Union Pacific Railroad Telegraph School. Their son Micheal Elwin “Mike” was born on March 11,1957. The Golls moved back to Kensington until Burnell began working for CRA, Inc. Refinery and the family moved to Phillipsburg. On May 13, 1959, their daughter Michela Jean “Mick” was born. Evelyn was baptized with her daughter, confirmed, and became a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Phillipsburg on March 26, 1961.
Bum was the ultimate full time loving Mom. She and Burnell enjoyed watching sports and following their children and grandchildren as they participated in many activities. She enjoyed spending time with her family and cooking for them. Playing Pokeno or cards with her friends, going to Bingo, and sharing a visit over a cup of coffee were highlights of her day. Bum was athletic and played softball and tennis through the years. She loved walking every day and playing Word Search. She and Burnell enjoyed hunting, fishing, and camping. Her faith in God and her family were very important to her. She was so proud to become a Great Grandma to Brooklyn Elizabeth and Bailey Samantha.
Evelyn and Burnell became residents of Phillips County Retirement Center on October 1, 2020. Bum joined Burnell so he did not have to quarantine by himself due to COVID. As fate would have it, Burnell died of COVID on January 6, 2021. On January 14, Bum moved in with her daughter, Mick, and son-in-law, Joel, for which she was so grateful. They shared many hours reminiscing about family, recipes, ball games—you name it. Bum enjoyed it when Mike, Brenda, and family came to visit as well as their video phone calls. She was always smiling.
Survivors include her two children, Micheal (Brenda) Goll of Salina, KS, and Michela (Joel) Hiesterman of Phillipsburg, KS; her sister, Carrie “Nette” Philbrick of Sidney, NE; three grandsons, Chandler (Carissa) Brass of Stockton, KS, Connor (Mary Claire) Brass of North Kansas City, MO, Spencer Brass of Los Angeles, CA, and two great granddaughters, Brooklyn and Bailey Brass of Stockton, KS; brother-in-law & sister-in-law; Lawrence and Kay Goll of Blue Hill, NE, along with nieces, nephews, family and friends, and the Hospice personnel that were so good to Bum. She will be dearly missed by all those that knew and loved her.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Burnell, first husband, Cleo, her parents, sister, Kathleen “Kassie” Bronson, and infant brother, Merval Madison. In-Laws: Walter “Fat” Bronson, Charles “Chuck” Philbrick, Myrnah and Eldon Ratliff, Naomi and Don Seibrass, and Lloyd and Luetta Dressel.
The Family has chosen Hospice Services, Inc. for their memorial.