Viola V. Wieser

Viola V. Wieser, 100, Rosholt, SD, passed away Wednesday, November 19, 2014, at the Northeast Care and Rehabilitation Center in Rosholt.

Funeral Mass was Saturday, November 22, at 10:30 a.m. at St. John's Catholic Church in Rosholt with Father Father Jerome Ranek, Father David Janes and Father Stan Wieser officiating. Music was provided by organist Lana Sand.

Burial was in the St. Nicholas Cemetery, rural Rosholt. Pallbearers were Niel Braun, Walter Braun, Dennis Wieser, Gregg Wieser, Gerard Zach, Stephen Wieser, Theodore Wieser, Joe Wieser and AJ Wieser.

Visitation was Friday from 1:00 to 6:00 p.m. at the Eggers Funeral Home in Rosholt. There was a prayer service at 7:00 p.m. at St. John's Catholic Church. Visitation continued Saturday one hour prior to the service at the church.

Viola Veronica was born January 23, 1914, to Theodore and Emma (Theis) Behselick at their farm home near Ipswich, SD. She grew up on the farm and attended rural school for six years, Holy Cross Catholic School for grades 7 and 8 and Ipswich High School, graduating in 1932.

Viola then attended Northern Normal and Industrial School at Aberdeen, SD, for one year and earned a certificate for rural teaching which she did. She returned to college for two years and then came to Rosholt to teach. While teaching she continued her college work by attending summer school sessions at Aberdeen and special classes offered by colleges at extension centers. She graduated from Northern State Teachers College at Aberdeen with a major in Elementary Education.

Her teaching experience includes the following: rural teaching in Edmunds and Roberts Counties, fifth grade in Watertown. In Rosholt she held a variety of positions which began as a 4, 5, 6 grade teacher. During a war time period when there was a teacher shortage, she was asked to teach the high school English classes with some eighth grade subjects, and assigned duties of Glee Club conductor, senior class play director, and supervisor of school publications, all of which she did for three years. When the first new elementary school was built, she was asked to be elementary principal and part-time upper grade teacher, a position she held for nine years. She completed her career as a fifth grade teacher and supervising a student teacher from Northern State College, Aberdeen.

Viola retired in 1981 after 45 years in educational service. As a dedicated teacher, she expected her students to try and do their best. She always enjoyed hearing about accomplishments of her former students.

On December 27, 1945, Victor Wieser and Viola were married in Holy Cross Catholic Church at Ipswich. They established a farm home 3 ½ miles east of Rosholt where they lived and farmed for 19 years. Vic died in 1996, the result of a car accident. Viola continued living in their home in Rosholt.

Viola was a faithful member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Rosholt where she was active in Altar Society activities and Rosary Makers. For many years she was a Eucharistic Minister, a CCD teacher and a cleaner at the St. John's rectory.

Her community activities included the VFW and American Legion Auxiliaries, the Community Quilters, Historical Society, and a frequent visitor at both Care Centers in Rosholt.

For recreation, Viola enjoyed dancing and going on many bus tours to areas in the United States and Canada. She liked to do embroidering, reading, and being with family and friends for card playing and visiting. Walking was her main exercise for many years.

Survivors include numerous nieces, nephews, great and great-great nieces and nephews, in-laws, and friends.

Viola was preceded in death by her parents, husband, two brothers, six sisters, and numerous nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be directed to a scholarship fund that will be set up in Viola's name.