Viola Fredricksen

Viola Fredricksen passed on into a better world at approximately 10:00 PM on Friday, March 16, at Missouri Slope Lutheran Care Center where she had been a resident for the past six months. Services will be held at 2:00 pm Friday, March 23, at Faith Lutheran Church, Bismarck. Burial will be held at Fairview Cemetery, Bismarck. Visitation will be held from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm Thursday, March 22, at Eastgate Funeral Service, Bismarck. The Woman of the Moose, Mandan Chapter 1374, will hold a ritual at 5:30 pm on Thursday at Eastgate Funeral Service, Bismarck. In recent years, Viola had developed medical complications which restricted her ability to walk and participate in other activities. After local surgeries followed by surgery at the Mayo Clinic failed to alleviate the damage, her doctor's recommendations for nursing home care were followed for her personal comfort and safety as well as to insure she would receive professional care. In the end the strain became too much for her tired body to handle and even though she made a valiant effort to remain with us it was not to be so her Lord called her home to her eternal rest. Viola was born on September 15, 1926, to Emanuel and Justina Bender Just on their farm six miles south of Mercer N.D. Being the eldest daughter in a family with eight children she quickly learned something about helping and caring for those around her. She retained these habits throughout her life as she worked as a volunteer with Medcenter One, sewing circle, Meals-on-Wheels, Women of the Moose, and other places where her help was needed. After completing the course of study at her local country school she began her working career as a cashier and waitress in Turtle Lake, N.D. Later she moved to Bismarck and continued this work at the Patterson Restaurant and Red Owl Grocery. On March 10, 1956, she married Fred Fredricksen and they continued to reside in Bismarck where they raised two children- John Thomas, born June 17, 1959, and Laurie Lee, born January 6, 1961. Since her husband's work took him to many locations here in the USA as well as several foreign countries Viola liked to join him at these locations whenever circumstances and conditions would permit. She liked to see new places and make new friends. Sometimes it would be a nice place like Hawaii or Puerto Rico. After Fred's retirement they spent time each winter in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas. She also took great pride in her flower beds and received many compliments on them from friends and neighbors. We feel sure that there will be flowers for her to tend in her new home. Her failing health also caused her to give up the whist parties, block parties and other activities she so enjoyed. Viola was a wonderful wife and Mother as well as a great friend and neighbor who will be greatly missed and long remembered by all who knew her. Viola leaves her husband of 56 years, Fred; son John of Sunnyvale, CA; and daughter Laurie Lee Howard Roberson of La Center, WA; one brother Leo Violet Just of Bismarck; four sisters Alice Neumiller of Turtle Lake, Loretta "Whitey" Schiermeister of Bismarck, Verline Verl Jensen of Turtle Lake, and Rosie Free of Bismarck; and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews across the country.

Viola Fredricksen

September 15, 1926 - March 16, 2012