Viola Stuefen

VIOLA STUEFEN June 13, 1922 – August 28, 2020 Viola Stuefen, age 98, a long time Lake George, MN area resident, peacefully passed into eternity to again dance with her beloved Clarence across the floors of heaven. She passed at the May Creek Cottages in Walker, MN on Friday morning, August 28, 2020 with her loved ones at her side. Viola was born on June 13, 1922 in Orth, MN to Hans and Nina (Schimmele) Jorgensen. At the age of two, she moved with her parents to a farm near Edgely, North Dakota. As a teenager, she lived in Vergas and Tamarack, MN before moving to the Lake George area in the 1930’s where she graduated from the Laporte High School with the Class of 1940. On March 30, 1941, Viola was united in marriage to Clarence Henry Stuefen at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Park Rapids. Their marriage was blessed with three daughters: Avis, Cheryl, and Linda. Viola devoted herself to making a warm and loving home for her husband and girls. She will be long remembered for her delicious home cooking and baking. She was a gifted artist who loved to paint landscapes. Over her lifetime she painted dozens of outdoor scenes. Viola was an accomplished seamstress, who sewed many dresses for her daughters as they were growing up. She also enjoyed decorating her lovely home and enjoyed collecting and refurbishing antiques that were an important part of her home. Viola and Clarence worked on many woodworking projects together and she also enjoyed working on cross stitch projects. In addition to caring for her family, Viola also worked outside her home. She cooked at the Lake George School for several years until gaining employment at the Itasca State Park where she worked in a variety of tasks; but, primarily in the gift shop until her retirement in 1987. Throughout her life, Viola looked forward to spring and planting a large vegetable garden where she nurtured all kinds of vegetables, raspberries, and strawberries for her family and to share with friends. She was a long time and faithful member of the Trinity Lutheran Church in Lake George. For many years she was active in the Lake George Garden Club, the Lake George Senior Citizens and was a charter member of the Lake George Birthday Club. Viola persevered the heartache of losing her beloved Clarence in 1999. Three years later, Viola went out and purchased a four-wheeler at the age of 80 and never having operated one before. She celebrated her 90th birthday by riding a Harley-Davidson motorcycle. She always loved getting together with friends and family to play cards and continued playing cards right up until shortly before her death. Due to failing health, Viola became a resident of the May Creek Cottages in Walker where she has resided for the past 2 ½ years. Above all, Viola’s unconditional love for her family and friends, her sweet spirit, and her kind smile will never be forgotten. She will be lovingly remembered by her three daughters: Avis Gobernatz of Ramsey, Cheryl Bridgman of Bemidji, and Linda Holk of Akeley; her eight dearly loved grandchildren; nine precious great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandson; as well as a handful of nieces and nephews, other relatives and many friends. Viola was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Clarence, and four siblings: Fred, Evelyn, Monroe, and Myrtle; one great-grandson, Mac, and her son-in-law, Jack Gobernatz. Funeral services will be held at 2 PM Friday, September 4, 2020 at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Lake George with the Rev. Donald Kirchner officiating. Visitation will begin 1 hour prior to the service on Friday at the church. Interment will be made next to her husband in the Lake George Cemetery. Her active casket bearers will be her grandchildren: Michael Gobernatz, Jolene Dejarlais, Julie Bash, Tara Bridgman, Tracy Liimatta, and her great-grandson, Jorgen Dejarlais. The Honorary casket bearers will be: Maria Gobernatz, Jason Liimatta, Brian Liimatta, Parker Anderson, and Ron Goehring. Following the service, a luncheon will be held at the park in Lake George.