Viola Keller

Viola Keller, 95, of Devils Lake, ND, formerly of Bisbee, ND passed away Wednesday, March 16, 2011 at the Heartland Care Center in Devils Lake, ND.

Memorial Services will be held on Wednesday, May 18, 2011 at 3:00 p.m. at Westminster Presbyterian Church of Devils Lake, ND. Visitation will be an hour before services at the church.

Viola was born April 28, 1915 to Oluf and Christina (Dunhom) Thoen in Tagus, ND. She was baptized in the Norwegian Lutheran Church of America and confirmed in the NLCA in Finley, ND. She was the youngest of four children: Clifford, Eva, & LaVerne. Viola attended grade schools in North Dakota and Minnesota and high schools in Minnesota. Viola earned a standard diploma at Mayville and a BA Degree along with a MA in English, Health, Physical Education & Recreation at UND. Violet was united in marriage to Ralph “Pat” Keller in Wolf Point, MT on May 25, 1940. She worked as a counselor in Camp Fire Camps of Minneapolis and New York. She returned to North Dakota and taught school in Bisbee, Cando & Devils Lake. In Bisbee, she served as Camp Fire Guardian for twenty years.

Viola was always active in school and community theatre. She served on the Ft. Totten Little Theatre Board and the Pioneer Players Board in Devils Lake for a number of years. She also directed many plays, musicals, pageants & community shows. She served as organist and Sunday school teacher in Bisbee and later as Sunday School Teacher at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Devils Lake. Viola spent the last fourteen years of her career as a teacher and administrator at the Lake Region State College in Devils Lake and taught part-time at Ft. Totten Little Hoop Community College for nine years. She was a long time member of the American Association of University Women, Arts Council and is a lifetime member of Psi Delta Kappa. Ralph passed away in 2003, and she moved to live with Kenneth (Kenfred) in his home in Bisbee where he cared for her until the end of her life.

Viola enjoyed living in Bisbee where she belonged to the Senior Citizens Club and enjoyed singing and card-playing. She enjoyed living with her son Kenfred and especially the loving care she received from him. Viola was a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Devils Lake. Memorials are preferred to Cando Community Library, Lake Region Public Library, Bisbee Senior Citizens, Westminster Presbyterian Church or Lake Region State College.

Viola is survived by her sons: Kenneth (Kenfred) Keller of Bisbee, ND and Stephen Keller of St. Paul, MN.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, infant daughter and siblings.

So sorry to hear of your mom's passing. I stopped to see Vi over Thanksgiving while visiting my mom. She remembered me and we talked about the "good times" we had while in theatre productions at LRCC and Fort Totten Little Theatre. We compared notes on former cast members and spoke of how we enjoyed working with Evelyn Hopley. She lived an amazing life and was such a kind & precious woman. I will always remember her love of the theatre and the encouragement and mentoring she gave to all thespians. I am very proud to have known her.

I want you to know how very sorry I am to hear of your dear mother's passing. She was truly one of the best teachers whose classroom I was ever privileged to attend...and she made learning fun. I will never forget her demonstrating to us how to correctly turn a somersault out on Cando's football field!

I really enjoyed knowing Vi as a member of the Presbyterian Church in Devils Lake and as a member of AAUW. I appreciated her attending my 75th birthday party in Devils Lake. My sympathy to her family.

I'm so sorry to hear about the loss of your mom. She was such an incredible influence in my life and I have so many fond memories of her throughout my childhood and how much she meant to my mom. What a wonderful life she lived and gave so much to all of us and to our little town of Bisbee. I can hear her now with all of her cheerful stories and her love of life and everyone around.

Steph and Ken: Our sincere condolences go out to you. Your Mother was an inspiration to many of us. A funny story to remember was when I had her as my phy-ed instructor. She always told us to keep our stomach muscles tightened up and we would always have a flat tummy. As for her musical and directing talents she was tops. She truly had a way with the younger generation. Paul and I always enjoyed going to their dome home at Devils Lake to visit, as our kids would love to climb the stairs to the look-out over the lake. God Bless you both.

My sincere sympathies to your family on Vi's passing. Mrs. Keller was my junior high English and gym teacher. She was able to get grammar through our heads,inspire us with great literature, and make us enjoy gym class. She even got hesitant young girls to take showers in public by setting the example herself. We loved her zaniness and enthusiasm for whatever she did. She is a teacher I will never forget..God bless her memory.

I will miss Aunt Vi. She was an amazing woman and ahead of her time. She always encouraged others to be their best. The world is a little sadder without her. I remember the times we spent together when I came to Bisbee to spend summers. My thoughts and prayers are with you at this time.

Our thoughts are with you at this time, Ken and Steph. Your Mom certainly touched a lot of lives spanning generations just in the Bisbee Day productions she directed over the years!

Way back when Steph you hung out with my oldest brother Steve. Your mom did such a fantastic job of raising you. I remember how nice you were all the time and that goes to show how great she was at instilling in you those traits.

Colleen and I will always remember Viola for all the wonderfull things she taught us at LRJC The musicals were probably one of the highlights of our life. She and Evelyn Hopley could make us do things even we thought we could not do. We are in Bismarck now but fondly remember those days

My condolences to you on the passing of Viola. She was a wonderful aunt, a loyal friend and a special blessing to me and to my children, Micah and Joshua. Peace to you and every blessing on this day of rememberance.

News is a bit delayed here in Texas, so I have just now learned of Ms. Viola's passing. The memories of the Fort Totten Little Theatre and her help and assistancae to those of us who were talent challenged will always be remembered. She was wonderful.