Violet A. Nienhuis

Violet Nienhuis Violet Nienhuis of Edmore, ND passed away Sunday morning, Sep 27, 2009 at the Edmore Memorial Rest Home. She was 85 – one month shy of 86. Violet’s memorial services will be held Friday, Oct 2, at 2:00 p.m. at Living Word Lutheran Church in Edmore. Pastor Steve Kyner will officiate and burial will be in the Edmore Cemetery. Visitation will be held at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake on Thursday, October 1, 2009 from 7:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. Visitation on Friday will be at the church one hour prior to the funeral service. Music will be provided by Violet’s daughters and the Church of God youth. Pallbearers will be the grandchildren in attendance: Andrea & Jonathan Lapp, Anna, James, John, & Mary Nienhuis, and Micah Moldenhauer. Violet Anna Goertzen was born Oct 29, 1923 at Morden, Manitoba, Canada. She was the first of three children born to John and Anna (Janzen) Goertzen. Their family lived on a 160 acre farm near Tolsltoi where Violet learned many farm and home chores including cooking, tending a garden, and milking cows by hand. Violet was homeschooled until the 4th grade by her father. She graduated valedictorian of her Altona High School class. Violet attended Teachers College in Winnipeg and received a temporary teaching certificate. The next winter she taught at an 8 grade rural school. Violet married Edward Nienhuis at the YMCA in Winnipeg, Manitoba on June 6, 1948. They made their home on their farm near Lawton, ND where they farmed until his retirement. They raised durum, wheat, barley, and flax, as well as operated a small dairy – selling milk and cream. Violet had a large garden every year and canned the produce every fall. She made homemade bread, homemade butter, and homemade jelly, plus sewed clothes for her family. She was known among her family and friends for her delicious pies – especially her apple and rhubarb custard pies. Violet was Assessor for Triumph Township for several years. Violet was a member of the Church of God (Seventh Day). She loved to study God’s Word and was a vigilant student of the Bible. She strove to pattern her life after Christ’s example. After her children were grown, she enjoyed community Bible studies with the ladies at St. Benedict’s Catholic Church (near Rohrville) and at Living Word Lutheran Church following her move to Edmore. Before entering the Edmore Memorial Rest Home as a resident, she led the Bible study there. After her admission, she continued to lead the Rest Home Bible study for awhile. Violet is survived by her four children: Joanne (Paul) Pedersen-Shibley of Salem, OR, David (Jamie) Nienhuis of Lawton, ND, Bonnie (Ken) Moldenhauer of Denver, CO, and Ronda (Barry) Lapp, of Eureka, SD. She has 11 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren. Her brother, John Goertzen, survives at Vernon, British Columbia, Canada. Violet was preceded in death by her husband, Edward, in Oct 2002; her father and mother and her sister, Ella Benight. Memorials may be sent to the Edmore Memorial Rest Home, the Church of God (Seventh Day) at Devils Lake, or Spring Vale Academy.