Viola Margurite Hodge, 98

Published 10:05 am Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Viola Margurite Hodge, 98, of Austin, Minn., died Saturday afternoon, Oct. 26, 2013, at the Comforcare Good Samaritan Center in Austin.

Hodge

Hodge

She was born June 13, 1915, the daughter of Christian C. and Caroline (Holm) Hedegard in Dexter, Minn. She attended school in Dexter and after graduation, attended Scarritt College in Nashville, Tenn. Viola worked with the Minnesota Council of Churches for four years and then the Methodist Board of Education Children’s division for eight years. On March 20, 1942, she was united in marriage to John “Jack” E. Hodge. The couple moved to Austin in 1945, where Viola taught Sunday School and Bible School for the next 20 years at First United Methodist Church. She was also active in the Ladies Circle and helped with visiting the sick, homebound and those in the hospital. When it became difficult for Viola to get downtown to First United Methodist Church, she would often attend Crane Community Chapel. She had many friends there, including Pastor Joe and Della Matt who worked with her when she was president of the Lincoln School PTA for six years. Their son, David Matt was one of her Cub Scouts. Her husband, Jack died on Aug. 28, 1987. In 2007, Viola moved to Comforcare Good Samaritan Center in Austin to live.

Viola is survived by her son, Ronald (Eileen) Hodge of Cottage Grove; grandson Derrick C. (Ann-Margaret) Hodge of Vadnais Heights; three great-grandchildren Elena R., Amelie C. and Graeson W. Hodge; many nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends, including Tom Dormady. She was preceded in death by her parents, Christian and Caroline Hedegard; her husband, John “Jack” Hodge; a sister, Karla and six brothers, Victor, W. Lester, Elmer, Henry, Atmar and Erland Hedegard.

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Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., Thursday, Oct. 31, 2013, at Crane Community Chapel in Austin with Pastor Dale Christiansen, officiating. Interment will follow the service at the St. John the Baptist Catholic Cemetery in Minnesota Lake, Minn. Visitation will be held for one hour prior to the service at the church on Thursday. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.worlein.com.