Evelyn Jane Goering Lehman died June 3, 2024. She was born Jan. 17, 1929, in McPherson County, Kan., to Adina and Christian B. Goering. She graduated from Bethel College with a music education degree in 1949. While a student at Bethel, she met Ralph Lehman, and they married in June of 1949.
Ralph and Evelyn directed a voluntary service unit at Topeka State Hospital in their first year, and after that, Evelyn taught vocal music in Washington, Kan., schools. Next they moved to Denver, Colo., where Ralph entered graduate school. Sons Joseph Michael and Ralph Stephen were born in Denver. They moved to Portsmouth, Ohio, where Ralph was clinical director of the state hospital. Later they moved to Smithfield, Ohio, where Ralph worked at Boy’s Village. Daughter Christine Ann was born there. Later they moved to Wadsworth, Ohio, when Ralph was director of social services at Summit County Family Services in Akron. Daughter Mary Jolene was born in Wadsworth.
They moved in 1968 to the St. Louis area, when Ralph became CEO of Edgewood Children’s Center. Evelyn completed graduate studies in early childhood education at Webster University. She taught kindergarten in the Webster Groves School District for 21 years. When desegregation efforts began, she codirected Bridging the Gap, which recruited kindergarten teachers and preschool directors to facilitate the changes.
Evelyn and Ralph retired in 1989. They volunteered at Koinonia Farms in Georgia, traveled to Europe, South America and Asia, all provinces in Canada and all 50 states. They moved to North Newton in 1992 and enjoyed retirement at Kidron Bethel since 2005. Evelyn volunteered at the Etcetera Shop and Kauffman Museum.
She is survived by her children and their spouses, J. Michael and Kathleen Lehman, R. Stephen Lehman and Kathleen Childers, Christine Lehman, and Mary Lehman Neal and Paul Neal; 11 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband; five sisters, Elizabeth Wedel, Amanda Goering, Ann Waltner, Melita Goering and Luella Stahly; and three brothers, Erwin, Eldon and Jacob Goering;
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. June 29 at Bethel College Mennonite Church.
Memorial donations may be made to the Ralph S. and Evelyn (Goering) Lehman Scholarship Fund at Bethel College.
