Evelyn was born February 23, 1926 at Bagot, Manitoba, Canada to Herb & Elizabeth Ritchie (Pogue). She attended Imaga Creek Elementary School, a country school that was located on her father's farm. Later enrolling in high school in Mac Gregor, Manitoba. After high school she moved to Winnipeg where she was employed by a grocery wholesaler, Merchants Consolidated, for 6 years. On October 29, 1949 she married John Pihulak and later moving with him to International Falls, Minnesota in 1954. The move to Minnesota was a short venture and in 1959 they decided to move to Portland, Oregon. For 33 years she worked as a certified nurses aid until her retirement. Evelyn remained in Portland until her passing on April 16, 2018.
Evelyn was preceded in death by her parents, husband and infant daughter. She is survived by her son Ron Pihulak and daughter in law, Toni; two granddaughters; one brother and sister in law; several nieces and nephews in Canada.