Viola Eleanor Stemper

CLERGY
Pastor Bill VanGerpen
MUSIC
Pianist ~ Barb Hebner
Special Music by Robert Rueb & Joyce Svanda
“Safe in the Arms of Jesus”
“My God and I”
“He the Pearly Gates Will Open”
CASKETBEARERS
Dawn Rye
Trevor Grimme
Shane Grimme
Doug Stemper
Jodi Stemper
Brian Stemper
Craig Rye
Viola Eleanor Stemper was born on Saturday, March 22, 1919 to Karl and Freda (Rueb) Schmoll in Tyndall, South Dakota. She was united in marriage to Andrew Stemper on October 14, 1941. They farmed southeast of Tyndall until Andrew’s death in 1972. Andrew and Viola were blessed with three children, Sharon, Richard and Pamela. Baby Sharon died when she was 10 days old. Following Andrew’s death, she and daughter Pam moved into Tyndall. She worked at Maus’ Meat Market, St. Michael’s Hospital and C.R. Industries. Viola was a lifelong Tyndall resident and an active member of the former Tyndall Baptist Church. She was baptized in 1944. Over the years, she had served as a Sunday school teacher, Sunday school treasurer, and White Cross Chairman of the Women’s Missionary Fellowship. Viola passed away on Sunday, December 28, 2008 at the Good Samaritan Society of Tyndall at the age of 89 years, 9 months and 6 days.
Viola is survived by a daughter, Pam (Jim) Grimme of Yankton; six grandchildren and one great-grandchild; one brother, Elmer (Georgia) Schmoll of California; two sisters: Leona (Laddie) Becvar and Beverly Ranek, all of Tyndall; and many nieces and nephews.
She is preceded in death by her parents, stepfather Ed Bren, husband Andrew, son Richard, and daughter Sharon in infancy,  and two sisters, one in infancy.