Eva Nicole LeTourneau

Eva Nicole LeTourneau was born on November 2, 2001, in Owatonna, MN to Matthew and Nicole (Langlie) LeTourneau. Eva was their first-born child. She was a beautiful baby with big, blue, kind eyes that would always draw others to her. She was a ray of sunshine, and her parents fell in love with her at once.   

Eva was a free-spirited child and played tirelessly with her younger siblings, Lauren and Braden, in the jungle-themed playroom her grandmother, Theresa, painted for her and her siblings. Mickey Mouse reigned as her longtime favorite character, and she danced and sang to Mickey’s Clubhouse themed cartoon most mornings. Her parent’s describe her playfulness and diva-like pizzazz with fondness, saying she kept them laughing and on their toes. She was a first-born in every right, and she tried to shelter her younger siblings as  a second little mother to them. As a young child, Eva adored all things princess; her parents tell memorable stories of her running and dancing in her costumes and countless pictures show Eva’s beaming blue eyes and sweet smile gazing into the camera her mother never put down. She was both smart and verbal, reading before she entered kindergarten. She could fill up a room with her bold laughter and she sometimes had a dramatic flair for making a sassy childhood remark that held some truth, especially if she could make everyone in the room laugh with her! Eva didn’t cower at having her own little audience. In fact, she loved it!   

She received her early education from Washington Elementary School in Owatonna, MN, and went on to the Junior High School there before moving with her family to Mankato, MN. She graduated from Mankato East High School in 2020. Eva was active in high school, both playing competitive volleyball and representing her high school DECA team as a young entrepreneur, an experience that later inspired her to enroll in business classes in college. Eva dreamed of one day opening her own spa. When Eva wasn’t at school, she spent time involved in her childhood church community at Trinity Lutheran and later with the Young Life Teen Ministry where she deepened her faith and relationship with Christ. Eva was always making new friends and built lasting friendships with other teens through her faith journey during high school. Eva shared in the sacrament of confirmation at Trinity Lutheran Church in Owatonna, and was an honorary confirmant with her brother, Braden, at Christ the King in Mankato.  

Eva was famous for sharing secrets and especially if she had bought you a gift, which she usually called to tell you about within minutes of buying! She also couldn’t wait to give it to you, even if it meant foregoing the event itself. Her giggles and joy were genuine and reflected the happiness she felt in having close relationships with friends and family. Everyone knew Eva to be goofy, full of life, and someone who was loyal and came to help in a time of need. She shared her humor to lighten people’s lives. When she wasn’t making you laugh, she had an impressive and surprisingly grown-up sense of the world around her. She was always happy to share her opinions, even if they weren’t the popular vote. Even as Eva grew older, she giggled while she spoke, gracefully putting those around her at ease. She could talk to anyone and sought out ways to be a helper to her teachers, coaches, neighbors and family friends. Her warmth and humor brought people together, and people loved her for her carefree spirit. Friends and family remember her big, silly (albeit loud) laugh as an endearing quality with which she told daily stories. Eva had a heart of acceptance. She cared for people and tried hard to ensure the most vulnerable around her never felt alone or left out. It was most important to Eva that she spend time with her family, including her beloved cousins, bonus mom (Jennifer), bonus brother (Wyatt), her grandparents, and aunts and uncles. From a young age, it was clear Eva’s heart had no bounds. She knew how to throw a great sleepover party and often invited friends into her home to host get togethers. She shared her first sleepover after moving to Mankato and volleyball began with her teammate, Emily, who has since been her best friend and confidante; the two were inseparable and have cared for one another through and through.   

Eva loved the idea of working to earn her own money, and she had a job as soon as she could, first at Dairy Queen, Goodwill, and most recently at Pawn America. She knew how to make a sale and had many regular customers who came to her for her knowledge and savvy expertise. She worked hard to find her customers just what they were looking for, whether it was an antique piece or a brand new TV. Her co-workers described her as funny, hard-working, and incredibly caring. If Eva was going to bring a coffee or snack to work, she brought one for everyone. Eva was a talker, and could be quite persuasive when she knew about a good deal and wanted to make it happen. Her work in sales at Pawn America earned her several company recognitions as the number one sales representative for her top monthly earnings. Eva had a knack for connecting with people from all walks of life, and this made her a leader in her work in customer service.  

When she wasn’t working, Eva loved to shop and spend her hard-earned money. She also wanted to get the most for her money, so thrifting became a favorite pastime, and she found all sorts of clothes and treasures as she scoured the racks of thrift stores both on and off the job. Eva knew if there was ever a concert t-shirt in the store, because if there was, she had it on hold to buy at the end of her shift. Beyond her weekly shopping adventures, Eva’s other pastimes included traveling, ice skating in the wintertime, hanging her hammock at local parks in the summer to read, (she was a self-proclaimed bookworm and read voraciously beyond the classroom), and watching scary movies, a shared love with her dad. In the fall, Eva loved to cheer on her brother Braden’s football games and was his biggest cheerleader, alongside their little sister Lauren every Friday night under the lights. Eva never missed a chance to watch Lauren score as a leading volleyball athlete on both her club and school teams. Both of her siblings made her incredibly proud, and she didn’t miss a chance to razz them for their athleticism in the family.   

Travel took Eva and her family to many sunny beaches, resorts, and festive events, including her aunt Lindsey’s wedding where she was a proud flower girl with a halo of yellow flowers in her hair. Her family also took their annual roadtrip to Washington Island in northern Door County, WI, where she shared in family traditions each summer on the Island, in the lavender fields, and salmon fishing off her grandpa Langlie’s boat on scenic Lake Michigan. Eva chose to have her senior pictures taken in her beloved childhood haunt poised alongside the rolling lavender blossoms. Her favorite time was with her siblings, cousins, nieces, nephew, aunts and uncles, and grandparents. Her family came first and were all a part of her close social circle. She was a family girl who kept close to her home and protected her younger siblings with gumption and might. Eva’s best friends also loved her for her steadfast loyalty, protectiveness, and giving spirit.  

In the fall of 2020, Eva enrolled at Mankato State University where she lived off campus in an apartment. She developed new friendships at MSU and was doing well in her college business courses. After years as a talented makeup artist and many experiences helping others on formal occasions, Eva decided to turn her talents towards a career in beauty. In the fall, Eva enrolled in coursework to prepare her to become an esthetician at Nova Academy of Cosmetology. Eva was excited and ready to earn her license as an esthetician. It was her dream to pursue work where she could help others experience beauty and healing.    

Eva was a natural beauty and was herself a modern day flower-child. In recent years, she grew fond of Boho and Hippie styles. She expressed herself with meaningful tattoos, fun hair colors (she wore without flaw), runway eye makeup, jewelry, and the one-of-a-kind original concert t-shirts she’d found on a rack at Goodwill. In her search for meaningful pieces, Eva was drawn to Gemology and the study of precious stones and their healing properties. Collecting crystals brought her joy, so she gave them as gifts and told the stories of their particular coloring and meaning. Eva kept her crystals on a base of lavender seeds in one of her favorite glass pumpkins (Halloween was naturally her favorite in its tradition for creative costuming and face paint). She took after her grandmother and mom in her ability to create beauty and imbue style - her style made a statement.  Everyone who knew her loved her for her brave and beautiful sense of self-expression she brought into the world.   

As Eva matured and found her passions, music also became a great love. Among all of her treasures and shopping keepsakes, Eva owned an extensive classic rock collection of vinyl records. Her uncle Jesse built her a craftsmith record display shelf for her several hundred records. God gifted Eva with an eye for diamonds in the rough, and as she grew older, so did her collections define the many facets of her artistic life. Like her mother, Eva loved to sing. If you ever rode in a car with her, she was singing to you. Eva’s uncle Tyler was an important influence in igniting Eva’s musical passions and record store perusing. Eva fell in love with the 1970s singer and songwriter, Stevie Nicks, after whom she affectionately named her first pet cat, “Stevie.” Last month, Eva attended a Stevie Nicks concert with her mom in Florida. She cried in awe when Stevie came on stage and began her first song, “Outside the Rain.”  Stevie’s music filled Eva with peace, strength, and inspiration. Her favorite Steve Nicks song was “Silver Springs.”  

Eva was a bright beam of light in the world. Her goodness could be felt by all who knew and loved her. Eva was kind, gentle, loving, giving, patient, caring, devoted, thoughtful, and funny. She will be missed by everyone who knew and loved her, especially her family.   

Eva passed away at the age of 21 on Thursday, December 1, 2022.    

She is survived by her parents, Matthew and Nicole (Langlie) LeTourneau; siblings, Braden and Lauren; bonus mom, Jennifer Wettergren; bonus brother, Wyatt Wettergren; maternal grandparents, Ronald and Theresa (Blazek) Langlie of Ellendale, MN; paternal grandparents Gerard LeTourneau of Windom, and Barb (Caldwell) Pieper of Windom; aunts and uncles, Lindsey (Langlie) and Greg Eid of South Carolina, Jesse and Angie (Nelson) Langlie of Owatonna, and Tyler Pieper, of Mankato; cousins, Gaborik Langlie, Payton Eid, and Piper Eid; and many great aunts and uncles, cousins, classmates, neighbors, and friends. 

She was preceded in death by her great-grandmother, Myrtle (Rocker) LeTourneau; and her grandpa, Clarence Pieper. 

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”  ~ Philippians 4:13  

Memorial service will be held at 12:30pm, Saturday, December 10, 2022 at Christ the King Lutheran Church in Mankato. Visitation will begin at 11am. Following the service, a meal will be served at church where friends and family are encouraged to continue sharing memories of Eva. Please share a memory of Eva with her family at www.mankatomortuary.com. 

Livestreaming will be available on Christ the King's YouTube and Facebook pages:
www.youtube.com/ctkmankato
www.facebook.com/ctkchurchmankato