Viola M. Knight, 96
Published 7:52 am Monday, October 23, 2017
Viola M. Knight, 96, passed away Oct. 20, 2017, at St. Marks Lutheran Home.
Viola M. Knight, 96
Viola was born on Nov. 17, 1920, in Casselton, North Dakota to Reinhard and Anna (Bahls) Flath. She grew up with two sisters and one brother. Viola was the oldest child. Activities she liked to do when growing up were ice-skating, boating, fishing and visiting relatives on the farm.
Viola graduated from high school in Perham, Minnesota and then went to college in Fargo, North Dakota for business for two years. Viola was at her friend’s house when she met John Knight. While John served in World War II, Viola worked first at a West Union, Iowa bank as a bookkeeper, then at the Dallas County State Bank in Adel, Iowa as a teller and secretary. When John returned from the service they were married on Jan. 19, 1946, in Adel. They moved to New Hampton, Iowa and later to Osage, Iowa and then Austin, Minnesota. Viola did volunteer work at church, taught Sunday school, and was a member of the VFW Auxiliary and the Eastern Star.
John and Viola were married for 63 years until he passed away in 2009. The family enjoyed going to football games, travel, camping trips and going to rodeos. Viola enjoyed sewing, reading books (over 300!), going to sing-a-longs, exercise groups, music programs, church, and gardening. She also liked animals and rode horses.
Viola was preceded in death by her: husband: John Knight Sr., parents; sister: Virginia; sister: Violet.
She is survived by daughter: Lana Jo (Terry) Teigen, Plymouth, Minnesota; John Jr., Austin; grandchildren: Tracy (Todd) Sherner; Heather (Scott) Lundquist; Rob Knight; and Hilary Knight; great grandchildren: Tatum and Taverie Sherner and Calin Lundquist; brother: Virgil Flath, Portland, Oregon; sister-in-law: Bessie Jost, Livermore, California; nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 26 at Westminster Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Michael Olmsted officiating. Interment will be at Fort Snelling National Cemetery on Friday. Visitation will be for one hour before the service on Thursday.