Viola “Marie” Barth, age 71, of Austin, died Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2009 at Sacred Heart Care Center in Austin. 
Viola was born Aug. 14, 1938 to Irvin and Flora Mae Ward in Rockford, Ill. and graduated from West Lima High School in 1956. She married Gene Duane Barth on Feb. 14, 1958 in Richland Center, Wis. They made their home in Austin, where Marie worked at the Austin Daily Herald and did babysitting.  
A member of Grace Lutheran Church, Marie was a volunteer at American Legion, VFW, the Eagles, and Den Mother for Cub Scouts.  She enjoyed playing bingo and doing crafts with Tri-Chem and Artex painting.  Gene Barth passed away March 30, 1991.
Survivors include daughter, Debra Barth; three sons: Douglas Barth, Darryl (his wife Linda) Barth, Russell Barth and fiancee, Renee Lewis, all of Austin; son-in-law, Mark Brewster of Lanesboro, Minn.; nine grandchildren: Brett (Brandi), Jacqueline; Damien, Alysha, Ashley, Alex, Andy, Kasen and Abby; two great-grandchildren, Derek and Killian; sister, Thelma Arens, Austin; brother, Elmer Cloyd,Rockford, Ill.; stepsisters: Beverly (Morris) Campbell, LaFarge, Wis., Betty Hauge, Ferryville, Wis., Bonnie (Dennis) Kearney, Rising Sun, Wis.; stepbrothers: Bruce (Crystal) Ward, Viroqua, Wis., Brent Ward, Readstown, Wis. 
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Gene, on March 30, 1991; daughter, Kathern Brewster, in 1999; sisters, Marian Hauge, Eleanor Froning; brothers, Ed Cloyd, Harold Cloyd; sister-in-law, Beverly Ryks; and brother-in-law, Ivan Hauge.
Funeral services were held at 11 a.m., Friday, Sept. 11, 2009 at Grace Lutheran Church in Austin with the Rev. Jeffrey Forbes officiating.  Friends called from 4 to 7 p.m., Thursday at Worlein Funeral Home in Austin and at the church one hour prior to the service.  Interment at Grandview Cemetery, Austin.