Becky Walsh-Evans values family above all
Staff writer
Becky Walsh-Evans has learned that life is too short to get upset about the day-to-day things that occur in the routine of daily living
She was raised in rural Collyer, a town of 200, located in northwestern Kansas, and she is the oldest of three children.
She attended grade school at Collyer and Trego Community High School in WaKenney, graduating in 1979.
After graduation, she attended Kansas State University, majoring in exercise science, the study of movement of the muscles. She graduated with a bachelor's of science degree in 1983.
With her degree, she was qualified to manage a fitness center and help people design fitness programs for themselves.
In December of 1984, she received a master's of science in education degree with a focus on adult and occupational education.
For approximately four years while in college and graduate school, Becky worked at a greenhouse landscaping company.
"I waited on the customers, mowed lawns, and did some planting," Becky said. "I mostly took care of outside shrubbery and trees. I pretty much did whatever my boss wanted me to do."
She was able to finish graduate school in a year and went to work with the K-State Extension program on Jan. 1, 1985.
Her first job was in Kingman County, west of Wichita. There Becky was in charge of the 4-H and youth programs. She worked in Kingman County until 1987.
On Jan. 1, 1988, she began working through the K-State Extension office in Finney County at Garden City.
Becky described the city as a multi-cultural one and one that had experienced a lot of growth expansion. She was in charge of the at risk program for youth and the 4-H program. She worked in that position for three years.
"I was getting a little burned out and wanted to do something different," Becky said. "My sister worked with State Farm in Garden City and encouraged me to look at career opportunities with the company."
On Sept. 1, 1991, Becky began her career as a State Farm agent in Wichita.
On March 1, 1992, a position with the company opened in Hillsboro, and Becky accepted it.
"I didn't care for the large city. I wanted to go to a rural area," Becky said. "So I came to Hillsboro and have been ever since."
Four years later, Becky became the State Farm agent in Marion, after the death of the agent there.
Becky said she has two "really good" staff members to run the two offices. Kris Pschigoda works at the Hillsboro office and Wendy Youk at Marion.
"These two make my life really simple," Becky said, praising her employees.
Becky's duties include a variety of things, but her main job is to "take care of the policyholders."
On March 30, 1996, she married Gary Evans, a full-time farmer and a rancher.
The couple had met two years earlier.
"He was one of my insurers," Becky said. "He came into the office, and we got acquainted. Also, mutual friends got us together."
On April 22, 2001, the Evans, received a most precious gift — the birth and adoption of their daughter Katherine Elizabeth or "Katie" or Katie Bug," as they call her.
"She changed our lives," Becky said. "She's our little sweetheart."
"Having a little one, we don't go out as much like we used to. We spend more time at home," she said.
Becky's hobbies are minimal now that she has Katie, but she said she continues to run. She used to ride bike long distances. She considers herself a "sports nut."
"I used to take 50-60 miles about three or four hour trips before we adopted Katie," Becky said. "I haven't been biking since she arrived — it's going on two years now. For now, I just run."
Both she and husband Gary like to work in the yard and spend a lot of time playing with their daughter.
They attend Ebenfeld M.B. Church. Becky supports a variety of organizations but does so behind the scenes. She is still a strong supporter of 4-H.
Becky said, "I don't have a lot of time to spend doing too many things right now."
"One thing Gary has made me realize is that in the big picture of life what really matters is your faith in God, your family, your friends, and your health — if you have that you have a lot."
