Memorials › Eva Eileen Molitor Davison

Eva Eileen Molitor Davison

7 Oct 1924 – 21 Mar 2025

Birth7 Oct 1924
Death21 Mar 2025
CemeteryBlack Hills National Cemetery
Sturgis , Meade County , South Dakota , USA
FaGhttps://www.findagrave.com/memorial/281050344

Bio

Eva Eileen Davison October 7, 1924 - March 21, 2025 Eva Davison, age 100, of Lemmon, SD, passed away on Friday evening, March 21, 2025 at the Five Counties Nursing Home in Lemmon, SD. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11am on Thursday, March 27, 2025, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Lemmon with Father Adam Hofer officiating. Burial will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, March 28, 2025 at the Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis, SD. Visitation will be held from 1pm-5pm on Wednesday, March 26, 2025 at the Evanson Jensen Funeral Home in Lemmon. A Rosary/Vigil Service will be held at 7pm on Wednesday at St. Mary's Catholic Church. Eva Eileen (Molitor) Davison, age 100, passed away on March 21, 2025 at the Five Counties Nursing Home in Lemmon, SD. She was born in Adams County, ND on October 7, 1924 to Phillip and Ada (Bunn) Molitor. She attended St. Mary's Catholic School and graduated from Lemmon High School in 1942. She always dreamed of becoming a nun and a nurse. Immediately after graduation, she moved to Pasadena, CA where she worked as a nanny and a maid until she was 18. She then worked at a Lockheed Aircraft Plant in Burbank, CA while awaiting the next nursing class opening. She entered the Los Angeles General Hospital School of Nursing on January 31, 1943 as a cadet nurse, graduating in January of 1946. The last six months of her training was spent at Modesto and Dibble General Army Hospitals. Following graduation, she attended East Los Angeles Junior College for a couple of semesters while working nights in the neurosurgical emergency room until she was promoted to Head Nurse of a fifty-bed neurosurgical ward. Around this time, Eva briefly entered St. Martin's Convent in Sturgis, SD for a few months until she returned to California to her neurosurgical position. She cherished lifelong friendships with the nuns at St. Martins. She served in her neurosurgical position for several years, followed by a year tour of duty at Marine Hospital in Seattle and a year of private duty at various Los Angeles hospitals. Nursing was a very important part of Eva's story, and she was proud of every position she ever held. She fondly remembered hearing from some of her special little ones that she took care of as infants and her friendships with her school of nursing classmates. In 1952, she returned to Lemmon, SD and worked at Five Counties Hospital and Community Memorial in Hettinger, ND. In 1974, Eva accepted a position at the Lemmon Clinic with the Hettinger Doctors and continued working there until retirement in 1987. She continued to fill in part-time at Five Counties nursing home for five years after leaving the Lemmon Clinic. Eva was united in marriage to Neil Raymond Davison in June of 1954 at St. Mary's Catholic Church, and they settled on his farm northwest of Lemmon. To this union five children were born: J, D, D, A and C. The family moved to Lemmon in 1958 when Neil purchased Case Implement. After Neil was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 1965, they returned to the farm. In 1976, they moved back to Lemmon. Eva cared for Neil for many years of their marriage. She said that Neil was always kind and gentle and accepted his problems with grace and faith. Eva was happiest when surrounded by loved ones. She adored spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren–they were the light of her life. Her cup, truly, runneth over. Eva was an active member of the St. Mary's Church where she served on the parish council and was happiest as a eucharistic lay minister, providing communion to homebound parishioners and to those in the nursing home. She also volunteered at the thrift shop and food pantry for many years and was an active member in the American Cancer Society. Among her many blessings, Eva treasured playing cards, reading books with family and friends, traveling the world, baking the best caramel rolls, and sharing her humor. When asked what she would like to say from the casket if she could speak, she said "Get me out of here." She enjoyed walking and was so grateful that she could do that for the many years she had. When asked if she should slow down, she scoffed, "Use it or lose it" before she hustled away. Eva's legacy lives on through her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, and the lives she touched as a nurse, woman of faith, and volunteer. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband Neil; sisters–Marie and Dorothy; brothers–Edward, Arnold, Roland, Raymond, Donald, Maynard; nieces–Kaye, Sharon, Linda, Aldene, and Lucille; nephews–Randy, Ed, Danny, and Allen; and three grandchildren–Ryn, Jennifer, and Neil. Eva's love, faith, and generosity will be remembered by all who knew her.

Photos

Family

Parents

Spouse

Siblings

Export GEDCOM

This person only · Entire connected family