Rieken, Viola Wilhelmina (1913-2007)

RIEKEN, MARTFIELD, WEBER, ERICKSON, ROSENBAUM, LYNCH, BURNETT, PLUEGER, GAMPP, MCKAY, WENSEL, BOULTON, ERICKSON, PORT

Posted By: Mary Holub, volunteer (email)
Date: 5/15/2008 at 09:34:16

From: Le Mars Daily Sentinel, April 2, 2007

Viola Rieken, 94, of Seney, died Friday, March 30, 2007 at the Orange City Hospital in Orange City.

Viola Wilhelmina Rieken was born Feb. 2, 1913, in Le Mars, the daughter of Rick and Tena (Martfield) Weber. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Brunsville. She attended Dalton country school near West Le Mars. She was united in marriage to William H. Rieken on Nov.11, 1930. The couple farmed north of Brunsville, before moving to Westfield in 1947. Viola was a homemaker for her family. In 1954, they moved to Le Mars. Viola worked for the Pantry Café for many years and was a caregiver for the elderly.

William died February 28, 1961. For the past nine years, she has lived with her daughter Bettie in Seney.

She was longtime member of St. John's Lutheran Church in Le Mars and the Le Mars Eagle's Club. She enjoyed feeding birds, squirrels, and watering the ducks. She also enjoyed feeding her daughter Kathy's rabbits. She enjoyed playing cards and fishing. Life in general meant so much for her; especially her family, she loved them dearly. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

Survivors include her four children, Bettie Erickson of Seney, Henry Rieken and his wife Mary of Merrill, Janet Rosenbaum and her husband Russel of Elk Point, S.D., and Dennis Rieken and Pam Lynch of Warsaw, Mo.; a son-in-law: Jim Burnett of Seney; 16 grandchildren; 45 great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren; a half-brother, Bill Weber and his wife Doris of Foley, Minn.; an aunt, Minnie Plueger of Le Mars; Ken Gampp, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; three sisters, Bernice McKay, Dora Wensel, and Kathryn Boulton; two brothers, Henry Weber and Alvin Weber; a daughter, Kathy Burnett; great-grandson: Brandon Erickson; a son-in-law, Walter Erickson; a special friend, Dick Gampp; and a grandson: Archie Port, Jr. on March 22, 2007.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at St. John's Lutheran Church, E.L.C.A. in Le Mars, with the Rev. Gary Landsness officiating. Burial will follow in Memorial Cemetery in Le Mars. Visitations will be after 3 p.m. today (Monday), with the family present after 6 p.m., and a prayer service at 7 p.m., all at Carlsen Funeral Home in Le Mars. Visitation will resume one hour prior to the service on Tuesday at the church.

Casketbearers will be her grandsons. Honorary casketbearers will be her granddaughters.