Spouses
Birth26 Apr 1908
Death29 Apr 2012
Misc. Notes
NEW SALEM — Viola Reif, 104, formerly of New Salem, died April, 29, 2012 at the Baptist Home, Bismarck. Cremation has taken place and services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 19, at Buehler-Larson Funeral Home, Mandan, with Chaplain Clyde Zimbelman officiating. Private family burial will be at Fairview Cemetery. The family will greet friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home on Saturday.
Viola was born April 26, 1908, at her family’s home near Lamberton, Minn., to Louis and Anna (Marti) Kissner. She attended grade school in Cottonwood County and graduated from Lamberton High School in 1926. In 1929, she graduated from Bismarck School of Nursing and worked for one year as a private duty nurse in Bismarck and Mandan.
On June 6, 1931 Viola married Reuel Reif at her family home in Minnesota and they lived in Cheyenne, Wyo., for one year. Viola taught Red Cross Home Nursing classes in Morton County in 1956. She was a member of a women’s singing group in the 1950’s. Viola helped organize the New Salem Nurses Club in 1963. From 1962 to 1965 she was the camp duty nurse at Pilgrim Park at Lake Metigoshe during the summer. Viola also taught nurse’s aide classes in the Bismarck Hospital for 12 years, retiring in 1965. Viola was a lifetime member of the New Salem Historical Society, a charter member of Elm Crest Auxiliary and Pioneer Club, a volunteer for senior citizen blood pressure checks and blood bank, winner in the “yard of the week” contest in 1979, and a member of First Presbyterian Church Women’s guild.
Viola liked to sew, read, crochet, knit, and garden. She made over 100 afghans, plus countless mittens, socks, caps, and sweaters for her family and friends. Viola enjoyed relating life experiences in rhyme and wrote many poems.
Blessed to have shared her life are two daughters, Frances (Don) Laschkewitsch, Bismarck and Nancy (Jim) Klusman, Lafayette, Ind.; five grandchildren, David (Lori) Laschkewitsch, Bismarck, Julie (Mark) Beczkalo and Michael (Renae) Laschkewitsch, all of Grand Forks, Paul Klusman, Wichita, Kan., and Heidi (Brad) Harner, Lafayette, Ind.; and seven great-grandchildren.
Viola was preceded in death by her husband, Reuel in 1973; her parents; three sisters; and two brothers.