Viola Pederson

Viola Pederson was born on April 4, 1919, in Crate Township, Chippewa County, MN, the daughter of John and Ella DeGrote. She was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith at Immanuel Lutheran church in Clara City, MN and attended country school. On January 22, 1940, she was united in marriage to Chester Wolff. They farmed near Clara City from 1943 to 1962, when they moved into Clara City.Viola and Chester owned and operated Chet's café in Clara City and Viola also worked at the VSC Store and the Clara City Drug Store. Chester passed away in 1969. In 1972, Viola married Russell Pederson and moved to Raymond. Russell died in 1999 and Viola continued to reside in Raymond.During her active years, Viola enjoyed bowling, playing cards with her friends, participating in church circle activities in both Immanuel Lutheran Church and St. John's Lutheran Church. Viola also loved spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren and great grandchildren. "Oma", as she was affectionately called, loved giving little bottles of M&Ms to the great grandchildren and hosting ?tea parties?. She will be remembered for her ever-present smile and her straightforward, no nonsense approach.In the early morning hours of Sunday, December 26, 2010, Viola was called from this life at Rice Memorial Hospital in Willmar. She was 91 years of age.Surviving family include her daughter Karla (& Larry) Meyer of Granite Falls; 2 grandsons- Rick (& Darcie) Meyer of Clara City and Greg (& Jackie) Meyer of Granite Falls; step children Jon (& Sophie) Pederson of Spicer and Debra Pederson of Chassell, MI; 9 step grandchildren- Kris & Tom Smith, Kari & Brian Flom, Tim & Liz Nord, Kathy & Chad Rickman, Celine & Eric Kronback, Adele Pederson, Joseph Pederson, Mollie (& David) Trewartha and Daniel & Jinny Coleman; 18 great grandchildren and a sister-in-law Gladys DeGrote of Clara City.Preceding Viola in death were her parents; her husbands, two brothers- John & Peter DeGrote and two step daughters- Kathy and Connie.