Wichita - Former Dodge City resident Shirley Ann Laukala passed away on Friday, April 27 ^th , 2018, in Wichita, Kansas.  Shirley was born in Belden, North Dakota, on August 26 ^th , 1938, to Nestor and Annie Laukala.  The family including her brothers:  Donald; Elroy; and Glenn farmed in Mountrail County, North Dakota.

Shirley attended school in Belden until her marriage to Dean Evensvold in 1954 at Blaisdell, North Dakota.  She and Dean had two children:  Candace Ann and Marty Dean.  She and Dean later divorced.  She married Tom Ovitt and the family relocated to Dodge City, Kansas, in 1973.  She and Tom later divorced.  While in Dodge City, Shirley worked as a CMA at the Fort Dodge Soldiers' Home, Trinity Manor, and the Good Samaritan Center. Later, Shirley made her home in Coffeyville where she made a number of friends.

She was very proud of her Finnish heritage.  She enjoyed speaking Finnish with her family and cooking.  She loved turning any house into a home.  She always made sure friends and family felt welcomed.

Shirley was preceded in death by her parents and brothers.   She is survived by her daughter, Candace Dudley and husband Rick of Mulvane; and her son, Marty Evensvold and wife Debra, of Coffeyville.  She is also survived by three grandchildren:  Whitney Riley of Wichita; and Glenn and Isaiah Evensvold of Coffeyville.

Funeral service will be held at Swaim Funeral Chapel in Dodge City on Tuesday, May 1, 2018 at 2:00 PM with Pastor Glenn Holbrook presiding.  Burial will follow at Maple Grove Cemetery in Dodge City, where Shirley will be laid to rest next to her parents.  Visitation will be at Swaim Funeral Chapel in Dodge City on Monday, April 30, 2018 from 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM.  Memorials are suggested to Ford County Humane Society in care of the funeral home.  Thoughts and memories may be shared in the online guest book at www.swaimfuneralhome.com.