Violet "Vi" Velander

Violet Velander was 91 years old the day she died, March 7, 2011. Her 91st birthday was on February 21, but her children had gathered to celebrate with her on March 3rd. What a gift it was that Violet spent her last four days in the home of daughter Karen being cared for by her husband and children. They were all at her side when she took her last breath. Violet Henrietta Larson was born February 21, 1920 to Betsy and Frank Larson in Parker?s Prairie, Minnesota. She attended Parker?s Prairie Schools, and graduated from Spencerian Business School in Milwaukee, Wisconsin before beginning work as a bookkeeper and manager first in Escanaba, MI and then San Francisco, California. Violet married Leonard Velander August 24, 1946 at First Lutheran Church in Parker?s Prairie, Minnesota. They lived in Racine, Wisconsin, Akron, Ohio, Elmhurst, Lombard and Decatur, Illinois before returning to Minnesota and settling in Brooklyn Center to raise their family. They retired to Carlos, Minnesota in 1985, and to Alexandria, Minnesota in 1998. Violet entered Knute Nelson Nursing Home in Alexandria in February of 2009. Vi worked as a bookkeeper for the Corp of Engineers and Northwest Bell Telephone, and as Vice President and Treasurer of Applied Sales and Engineering. She was a faithful volunteer in her church and community. She is survived by husband Leonard, children Ann (Kurt) Nordby, Peter, and Karen (Craig) Kochsiek, sister Evelyn Larson of Alexandria, grandchildren Benjamin, Matthew, Sarah, Petra, and Isaac, and great grandchildren Cora and Owen. Violet was preceded in death by her oldest son Paul, parents Frank and Betsy, sister Ebba and brothers Bernard, Floyd and Kerman. Vi will be remembered as a sweet, loving little woman who was known for her courage, grace, lightheartedness, patience, and gift for hospitality. Visitation will be on Saturday, March 12, 2011, 1:00 ? 2:00 p.m. at Knute Nelson Chapel with the Funeral service at 2:00 p.m. at Knute Nelson Chapel in Alexandria. Burial will be at the Swedish Lutheran Cemetery in Parkers Prairie, MN. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Knute Nelson Foundation in Alexandria or the American Cancer Society.