Viola Victoria Verena (Erickson) Enstrom was born February 12, 1917 to Walter and Anna (Bring) Erickson on a farm west of Oakland, Nebraska. She attended grade school at Rock School District #48, four miles outside of Oakland. Viola graduated from Oakland High School in 1934. She was baptized and a member of the West Side Methodist Church, where she played the organ for many years, and directed the choir and male chorus at different times. Viola was a member and officer in United Methodist Women.
On August 26, 1939, Viola was married to William “Bill” H. Enstrom at the West Side Methodist Church in rural Oakland. They farmed and were owners of the local Dairy Queen. They had three children – Maxine Kay, born in 1942, Charles William, born in 1944 and Roger Allen, born in 1951 – all in Oakland. Together they were youth sponsors and Sunday School teachers. Viola and Bill received the AK-SAR-BEN Good Neighbor Award in 1991.
She worked at Oakland Memorial Hospital as Nurse’s Aid for over ten years, served on Oakland Heights Board of Directors and Assisted with Sing-a-Long and Bible Study at Oakland Heights. Viola was awarded the State Volunteer of the Year for Nursing Homes in 1990. She was a volunteer up until her residence at the Nursing Home in November 2014.
Viola was an active member in Garden Club, Neighborhood Circle, East Oaks, Golden Oaks and Hospital Auxiliary. She was a 50 year member of Order of Eastern Star and recipient of “Imhoff Award”. Viola was an original member of the Ring Quilters (RQ) Club. This group was formed when they were young girls and were taught quilting by Pastor Stromberg’s wife, Mabel, at West Side Methodist Church. This group was very close through their lives. Viola was the last living member.
Viola’s life centered around her family, faith and community. She enjoyed doing things for others before herself. Her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, nieces and nephews meant so much to her. If you asked her when any of their birthdays were, she would know. When she had free time, she enjoyed doing puzzles, playing games with family, friends, and neighbors. Her Swedish heritage was very important to her. This included family dinners with the traditional Swedish menu – lutefisk, ostakaka and rye bread.
After her husband died in 2000, Viola lived in an apartment before moving to the Oakland Heights Assisted Living. She attended over 800 exercise sessions at the Oakland Mercy Hospital from July 2001 to June 2012 to improve her cardiovascular health and was recognized for her stamina and perseverance. In 2008, the Oakland Chamber of Commerce presented Viola with the Good Neighbor Award.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Bill; sisters, Myrtle (Marion) Quist, Gloria (Richard) Shalberg, and Leila Erickson; brothers-in-law, Leroy (Ruth) Enstrom, Elmon (Helen) Enstrom, Leland (Ethel) Enstrom; sister-in-law, LaMae (Bryon) Brainard.
She is survived by her daughter, Maxine (Norman) Kassmeier of Lincoln, NE; sons, Charles (Mary) Enstrom of Wichita, KS, Roger (Nancy) Enstrom of Fremont, NE; brother-in-law, Claire (Ardis) Enstrom of Gretna, NE; grandchildren, Tara (Mike) Nagel of Lincoln, Troy (Patty) Kassmeier of Lincoln, Tasa (Jake) Armknecht of Auburn, NE, Tammy Enstrom of Wichita, Anna Enstrom of Fremont, Lisa (Matt) Glathar of Lincoln, Rachel (fiancé, Dylan Howe) Enstrom of Minneapolis, MN; great grandchildren, Madysn and Reid Nagel of Lincoln, Abigayl, Samuel, Cathryn, Tessa Kassmeier of Lincoln, Logan, Rees, Lexi, Crew Armknecht of Auburn, Erica Enstrom and Chase LaPierre of Wichita, Lucy and William Glathar of Lincoln; many nieces, nephews and friends.
Visitations is Friday, January 15th from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Pelan Funeral Services in Oakland.
The Funeral Service is Saturday, January 16th at 10:30 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Oakland.
Viola Enstrom
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