August 21, 1927 ~ July 5, 2019
Derald Evan Fristo, age 91, of Lee’s Summit, formerly of North Platte,
Nebraska, passed away on Friday, July 5, 2019, in Lee’s Summit.
Evan was born at Dickens, Nebraska, on August 21, 1927, the only child
of James Edward and Verna Leona Fristo. He grew up in Dickens where he
attended country school then graduated from North Platte High School.
Evan joined the U.S. Army in 1945 and served with an Amphibian Truck Company. Following his discharge in ’46 he returned home and started ranching and farming, which he did until his first retirement.
On June 11, 1950, Evan was united in marriage to Ruth Ione Lowe at
Huntley, Nebraska. The couple lived on the ranch until moving into North
Platte in 1993. They had four sons and enjoyed 69 years of marriage.
After retiring from the farm, Evan and Ruth managed motels and Evan
worked for the Red Cross until they moved to Lee’s Summit, Missouri in
2000 to be closer to family. Since Evan enjoyed having something to do,
he worked at an auto auction and for his son’s medical office until
retiring for the last time in 2007. He also exercised at least three
times a week at a local health club.
Evan supported education by serving on both local and state school
boards in Nebraska and was a member of the American Legion, Elks Club
and First United Methodist Church. He was an avid reader of just about
everything he could get his hands on and had a keen interest in
antiques. He also enjoyed feeding and watching the birds and other wildlife.
Evan was a lifelong Husker fan, and became a Royals and Chiefs fan while
in Missouri. He liked music…pretty much all kinds as long as it was
performed well, and had a fondness for Laurel and Hardy, Abbot and
Costello, Tim Conway, and Jonathan Winters. Evan especially loved his
family. One of his greatest joys was watching his grandchildren grow up.
Evan is survived by his wife, Ruth, of Lee’s Summit; sons, Todd (Patty)
Fristo, of Lee’s Summit, and Jami (Cynthia) Fristo of Lincoln, NE;
grandchildren, Madelynn, Kris, Evan and Grant; and other family.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Jim and Verna Fristo; and sons,
Kim and Kris.
Funeral service will be at 10 a.m. on Thursday, July 11, 2019, at Odean
Colonial Chapel in North Platte, NE. Burial with military honors will
follow in the Dickens Cemetery. Condolences may be shared at
odeanchapel.com. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the
Paralyzed Veterans of America, pva.org.
