Viola Emma Christina (Carlson) Bjorneberg died 12-13-2020 at Ava’s House in Sioux Falls, SD after a life filled with love. No public service will be held due the coronavirus pandemic. Private service will be live streamed at the Minnehaha Funeral Home & Cremation Services Facebook Page at 2:00 PM, Monday December 21, 2020. Interment was in the West Palisade Cemetery, Rock County, Minnesota.
Viola was born on April 25, 1928, on the family farm near Garretson, SD. Her father, Evald Carlson, was an immigrant from Sweden and her mother, Emma (Nelson) was the daughter of Swedish immigrants.
Even though she was the youngest of four daughters, Viola was not exempt from doing chores on the farm. She learned to count before going to school thanks to picking eggs. Viola always said one hip stuck out from years and years of carrying a tub of wood and corn cobs that they burned to heat the house.
She and her sisters took care of all the livestock during the summer months so their father could do field work. Viola was old enough to learn to drive their first tractor, a Farmall, but she did not make the field corners square enough to suit her father.
Viola told the story of corn picking “vacations” during World War II when farm help was in short supply. She had to help her dad pick corn by hand but had trouble hitting the wagon. Her cobs either landed short of the wagon — she hit her dad several times — or flew over the long board on the wagon.
When she was young, her mother made her new dresses twice a year — for the Christmas program at Beaver Valley Lutheran Church and for the Midsummer Celebration (June 24), also at church. She remembered her mother sewing up until the last minute. She also told of helping her mom feed the threshing crews that were made up of a dozen or so men.
After graduating from Garretson High School in May 1945, Viola attended Nettleton Commercial College in Sioux Falls, SD. She worked as a stenographer at area banks, making several life-long friends, and enjoyed traveling during that time in her life.
She met Stanley Bjorneberg on a blind date arranged by friends. She knew he was a “keeper” when he showed up with freshly-shined shoes. They were married in October 1956 and began farming in the Canton area, near his family. They were blessed with three children: Ruth, Mark, and David.
In 1966, they bought the Carlson family farm where Viola was born and raised. They spent three days moving to the farm hauling machinery one day, household items the next and livestock — including milk cows — the third day. In 1972 they built a new home on the farm place and continued to farm until 2002. Stanley died in December 2007. Viola continued living on the farm until the fall of 2018, when she moved to Brandon, SD.
Viola was an active member of the Palisade Lutheran Church. She was known for her quilts (many of which were donated to charities) and her well-stocked cupboard. She was happiest when her grandchildren visited and enjoyed making their favorite foods, including Chocolate Caramel Bars, Snicker Salad and Tater Tot Casserole. She also enjoyed completing crossword puzzles and reading magazines.
Viola was preceded in death by her parents, husband Stanley, sisters Edna Monrad and Elinor Steen, and grandson Eric. She is survived by her sister Arlene Rollag of Luverne, MN; daughter Ruth of Brandon, SD; sons Mark (Lisa) of Garretson, SD, and David (Cindy) of Hansen, ID; grandchildren Alice, Mari, and Matthew; as well as many nieces and nephews.
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