Lillian Elsie Evans

Mother · Wife · Friend · Servant of Christ

Born: January 28, 1935, Wakaw, Saskatchewan

Died: April 21, 2025, Whiting, New Jersey

Lillian Elsie Evans (nee Monus) passed away peacefully after living with leukemia for several years, having said farewell to her children, grandchildren, family, and many friends. She will be laid to rest beside her husband, Wendell, near their home in Whiting, New Jersey.

Born in Wakaw, Saskatchewan, and raised on a farm near Prince Albert, Lillian was the youngest of nine children in a home rooted in faith, hard work, and resilience. Her father was a traveling minister, and her early life was filled with the rhythms of farm life; gospel ministry; a mix of the English and Hungarian languages; and the boisterous energy of eight older brothers. It was her brother Al who ultimately helped her leave the farm—and who also guided her to a life devoted to Jesus.

As a teenager, Lillian moved away to Three Hills, Alberta, to attend Prairie High School. She went on to Prairie Bible Institute, where she met Wendell Evans—a fellow student and Minnesota farm boy, with a passionate calling to serve Muslim communities in North Africa. Lillian not only embraced his vision, but also partnered with him in life and ministry.

She trained as a nurse in Toronto, Ontario, to prepare for the mission field; then joined Wendell in Tunis, Tunisia, where they were married and began their ministry with the North Africa Mission (later Arab World Ministries, now part of Pioneers). After language training and cultural immersion, they served in Algeria during that country’s early years of independence—an open and hopeful time marked by deep connections. Their three children—Philip, John, and Dalinda—were born during these formative years.

The family later returned to Tunis for several years, then moved to Casablanca, Morocco. Wherever they went, Lillian built close friendships with local women and families, put down deep roots, and made fond memories. As their children left for college in the U.S., Wendell and Lillian made their home in Aix-en-Provence, France, and then Worthing, England, as they traveled widely to support and nurture Christian communities and leaders across the Arab world—from the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, and Yemen to North and West Africa, Europe, and North America.

In retirement, they settled in Whiting, NJ, drawn by the relative proximity of family and the support of long-time ministry partners. After Wendell’s passing in 2001, Lillian lived more than two vibrant decades in Whiting, forging new friendships and supporting global missions with Whiting Bible Church. She loved to sing and play the piano and remained deeply involved in mission work. She also enjoyed lengthy games of Super Scrabble with her (evenly-matched) friend Eunice. Lillian was never afraid to bridge cultural gaps, whether cooking her always-popular Tunisian couscous, confusing waiters at Moroccan restaurants by ordering in their Arabic dialect—or when she shocked her neighbors by attending a local Afghan wedding. Her door, and her heart, were always open to any and all.

Lillian was preceded in death by Wendell Evans, her husband of 40 years; her brothers Fred, Joe, Gordon, Mike, Al, Charley, Earnest, and Elmer Monus (Charley and Earnest died before her birth); and her parents, John and Katherine (Shoemaker) Monus. She is survived by her brothers Charlie and Vic Monus; her daughter Dalinda Rioseco; her sons and daughters-in-law, Philip Evans and Jamie Lanfranco and John and Suvia Evans; her grandchildren Amaia and Tristan Rioseco and Dylan, William, and Timo Evans; and many other cherished family members and friends.

A Celebration of Lillian's Life will be August 9, 2025 at the Whiting Bible Church, 95 Lacey Rd in Whiting 08759. The time will be forthcoming.