VIOLA (JOHNSON) HALVORSON

Viola and family on her 95th birthday, June 2012
Myron, Betty, Hartley, Louise, Darlene, Herb

Viola Geneva (Johnson) Halvorson

June 8, 1917 - April 12, 2012

As I was typing Aunt Viola's name, I remembered what a friend had said when I married and an Erickson became a Johnson.  She said "You just changed from Erick to John!"  So that's what Aunt Viola did too, changed from John to Halvor.  I wish the Johnson brothers had all taken the Bergan name, which several of Ben Johnson's brothers did. Their father was Hans Johanson Bergan. Johanson (or John's son) determined one name, the place of his birth in Norway the other - Bergan.  On coming to America they would choose one of those names as their last name.  Bergan is a popular brand name of clothing in Norway.  Do you suppose it was started by a relative?

The service on Tuesday was a wonderful celebration of Viola's life.  Her grandson, Dustin Halvorson, shared "Words from the Family", sharing memories from family members, many of them humorous. Some stories were recent, others went back many years.  Dustin is a former radio announcer, now working in  real estate, and is at ease behind the mike.  I asked him if I could have a copy of his talk.  When he said I could, I took another step and asked if I could put it on my blog.  He was agreeable to that too!  He'll be away for the next week so you might have to wait a bit before you get to read it.  It will be worth waiting for!

Hymns during the service were "When Peace Like a River" (which was also sung at Horace's funeral),
"How Great Thous Art", "Children of the Heavenly Father" ( I remember this one being sung at Aunt Dorma's) The Trinity Choir sang a very fitting song and it was good to see former Torquay choir members - Wes and Linda Hanson, Keith and Janice Hanson.  Pastor Miller spoke about the strong faith that Aunt Viola had and compared it to a hug that makes us feel so loved and special.  The recessional hymn was the peppy "Oh When the Saints Go Marching In".

Following the service, a lovely lunch was served.  Here's a picture of Jamie and Lindsay enjoying their buns and squares. (I didn't get a picture of Jamie's white mouth after eating yummy doughnuts coated with icing sugar!)

What a good lunch!

Funerals bring together people who haven't seen each other for ages.  Two nephews, Don Vinge from Edmonton and Lorne Vinge and his wife Karen from Kelowna, flew to Regina and came by car to the service.  Roads were icy last night but were much improved today, especially after the service when they were mostly dry.

Several vehicles made their way to Trinity Cemetery in Torquay where Viola now rests beside her husband, Norris, who passed away in 1984 at the age of 71.   She joins three of her sisters who are also buried in that cemetery - Dorma Vinge, Helma Vinge and Beatrice Pederson.  Horace is buried at Salem, Signe Grimsrud in North Dakota.

Pastor Stewart Miller officiated at the interment

Aunt Viola's immediate family - Darlene and Herb, Hartley and Louise, Myron and Betty
with children and grandchildren

Hartley and Louise invited family members to their home south of Torquay where we enjoyed pizza and other goodies with lots of visiting around the kitchen table and in the living-room. 
I will close with words from the service bulletin "We will all mourn Viola's passing but also give thanks to God for the gift He gave us in Viola.  She will be dearly missed."

Watch for Dustin's guest blog at a later date.