Mrs. Christa (Evink) Kelp, age 49, of Terril, formerly of Hospers, passed away on Saturday, November 23, 2024, at her home.
A family prayer service will take place on Saturday, November 30, at 10:30am, at the First Christian Reformed Church in Hospers. Interment will follow the prayer service at the Hospers Cemetery near Hospers. There will be a memorial service on Saturday, at 11:30am, at the church with the Rev. Duane Tinklenberg officiating. A meal and time of visitation with the family will follow the memorial service, at the church. The Oolman Funeral Home in Hospers is in charge of arrangements.
Christa Annette, the daughter of Donald John and Helen Ann (Burns) Evink, was born on December 25, 1974, in Morris, Minnesota. When she was still a young child, her family moved from Hancock, Minnesota to Hospers. Christa was a student at the Hospers Christian School and at the Hospers Elementary School and Floyd Valley Middle School before graduating from the MOC-Floyd Valley High School in 1994.
After high school, Christa enrolled at the Iowa Lakes Community College in Emmetsburg, where she studied early childhood care and also began working at Terril Tele-Technologies. While working in Terril, she was introduced to Kevin Lee Kelp, through mutual friends. With Kevin’s encouragement, she later returned to school in order to pursue her interest in graphic design. In addition to being a student, she also worked part-time at the Hy-Vee Grocery Store in Spirit Lake and at Del’s Garden Center in Spencer. She and Kevin were united in marriage on June 7, 2008, in Spirit Lake. Together they made their home in Terril, where Christa was a homemaker. In 2015, she was diagnosed with pulmonary sarcoma, and after surgery and treatment, she remained in remission until 2019, when the cancer returned.
Prior to her health issues, Christa was a regular attendee at the Good News Community Church in Spirit Lake. She enjoyed being outdoors, often tending to her flowers, and was an avid reader of non-fiction books and articles. She also liked to scrapbook and collect recipes, and looked forward to attending events at the Orpheum Theater in Sioux City and visiting the Minneapolis Institute of Art. Christa’s family was important to her, and spending time with them at The Lakes was always a joy. She also loved animals, which was evident in the way she cared for her dog Izzy and cat Tia.
She will be deeply missed by her husband, Kevin Kelp, of Terril; her parents, Don and Helen Evink, of Hospers; two brothers, Eric Evink, and his wife, Laura, and their children, Anna and Ross; and Ethan Evink, all of Hospers; and her paternal grandmother, Audrey Evink, of Morris. She is also survived by Kevin’s parents, Larry and Judy Kelp, of Spencer; and his brother and his wife, Robb and Laura Kelp, of Jacksonville, Florida; and their children, Alex Doppenberg, and his wife, Gabby; and Elizabeth Doppenberg.
Memorials will be given to Christa’s family for future designation.
You are invited to leave a message of condolence, print a memorial folder, view a tribute video, and participate in the service via livestream at www.oolman.com.
