Evelyn Anna Margaret Kako

The family of Evelyn Anna Margaret (Hilden) Kako sadly announces her passing on June 25, 2025. She passed peacefully at CHI St. Joseph's Health surrounded by family. Evelyn was a resident of Green Valley Township for the majority of the years while raising her thirteen children and spent the last two decades living in Park Rapids. Evelyn was a faithful member of New Life Community Church and loved listening to worship music consistently throughout the day. She always enjoyed time spent with her family, and later in life enjoyed traveling via car or plane with family to many different states and overseas to Finland and Malaysia. Evelyn enjoyed having visitors and would never turn anyone away. When she had visitors at her home, Evelyn always had the coffee pot on and cookies for her company (this was prior to moving to Heritage Living Center of Park Rapids in December 2023). She will forever be remembered for her hospitality to all she encountered. Her kindness made everyone in her presence feel welcome.

Evelyn, who is known as 'Evie" to close friends, was born on August 28, 1944, in Green Valley Township to Andrew and Aino (Ranua) Hilden. She attended District 92 country school in Green Valley Township through sixth grade, and she also attended Menahga High School and later received her GED. She spent about a year living in Minneapolis after uniting in marriage to Donald Kako in May of 1963, where their first child was born. They then moved to Menahga (where their second child was born) and eventually to their homestead in Green Valley Township (where the rest of the children were born). Her husband Donald preceded her in death in November of 2002.

Those who knew Evelyn understood that she had several health complications. She had many visitors who surrounded her in the last days and months of her life. She reminded everyone who visited her of her immense love for all the special people in her life. During her last days, this love was reciprocated by family and friends who visited her and shared stories and memories of their times with her.

Evelyn's life will forever be remembered by her children, Clint of Menahga, MN; Deanna (Kerry Hillukka) of Menahga, MN; Roland of Park Rapids, MN; Lisa (Steve Cassman) of Brainerd, MN; Margaret (Damian Lockwood) of Baxter, MN; Donald (Samantha) of Inman, SC; Barbara Kako (David Ishaug) of Fergus Falls, MN; Tim (Saliah) of Inman, SC; Wilbert (Edna) of Park Rapids, MN; Curtis (Leanne) of Park Rapids, MN; Janet (Chris Barron) of Auxvasse, MO; Tom (Nani Khamaruddin) of Vancouver, WA; and Connie (Steve Markus) of Portage, MI; 40 grandchildren; 64 great-grandchildren; brothers, Andrew (Shirley) HiIden of Deerwood, MN and Ernest Hilden of Osage, MN; and sisters, Esther Davidson (Norm Denstedt) of Menahga, MN, and Elma Juntunen of Zimmerman, MN; as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins, and a host of friends. She is preceded in death by her husband, Donald; 2 grandchildren; parents; sister Ellen; and a number of brothers- and sisters-in-law including her close friend and sister-in-law, Tina.

Evelyn is a beloved soul who will forever be in our hearts.