RYE, Viola 1918-2006

RYE

Posted By: Gordon Felland (email)
Date: 3/8/2006 at 16:58:43

Viola Rye, 87, of 4 Third St. N.W. in Mason City, formerly of Hanlontown, died Thursday (March 2, 2006) of respiratory failure at Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa in Mason City.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Monday at Grace Lutheran Church, 304 E. Fourth St. in Hanlontown, with the Rev. Randy Nielsen officiating. Burial will be in Brush Point Cemetery, rural Hanlontown. Visitation will be held from 3 until 5 p.m. Sunday at Bride Colonial Chapel, 110 E. Spring St. in Manly. Visitation will also be held one hour prior to service time on Monday at the church. The family of Viola Rye has requested that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Northwood-Kensett Elementary School for special needs projects, KCMR Radio, or to the Telephone Reassurance Program in her memory.

Viola Thelma Eilertson was one of twins born on June 14, 1918, the daughter of Tom and Julia (Jelle) Eilertson in Kiester, Minn. Viola graduated from Kiester High School and normal training in Blue Earth, Minn. She taught school for seven years in southern Minnesota country schools before she moved to Hanlontown, Iowa, to teach for two years. Viola continued to teach as a substitute teacher in local schools and later was a teacher’s aid in the Northwood-Kensett school system from 1968 to 1983.

She met Claire Rye, a Hanlontown farmer, while she was teaching in Hanlontown. Claire and Viola were married on June 9, 1946. Viola and Claire raised their three children and lived their entire life together on a farm north of Hanlontown. During their early retired years, they enjoyed traveling. Claire preceded Viola in death on Oct. 2, 1999. In 2001, after the death of her husband, Viola moved to the Manor in Mason City.

We remember Viola as a teacher, particularly concerned for students who needed remedial help. We remember her as a lefse-maker, quilter and faithful church member of Grace Lutheran Church in Hanlontown and later also of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Mason City. We remember her as one who always recalled and celebrated the birthdays of her family and friends by sending birthday cards to them.

We also remember Viola as one who understood cordiality to include at least a cup of coffee and a cookie. Viola Thelma Eilertson Rye enriched the lives of her family and friends through her own life of dedication and loyalty.

Left to cherish her memory are her three children, Clayton (Suzzanne) of Hanlontown, Carol Rye of Mason City, and Julie (Ray) Dostal of Bloomington, Ill.; grandchildren, Sarah Rye of St. Paul, Minn., Richard Rye of Hanlontown, Amy Rye of Mason City, Andrew Olson of Mason City, Jennifer Dostal of Silver Spring, Maryland, and Daniel (Hillary) Dostal of Hermitage, Tenn. Viola is also survived by two brothers, Jerold (Mardelle) Eilertson of Kiester, Minn., and Edward Eilertson of Albert Lea, Minn., and her twin sister, Violet Iverson of Albert Lea, Minn., and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and a host of friends at The Manor and St. Paul Lutheran Church in Mason City.

Viola was preceded in death by her parents, husband Claire, and four brothers and sisters.

Source: Mason City Globe Gazette, March 4, 2006