The funeral service for Viola “Vi” Fiene, 96, of Wood Lake, MN, will take place at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, September 21, 2020, at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church in Posen Township. Visitation will be Sunday, September 20, from 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. and Monday from 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. at the church. Interment will follow the service at St. Luke’s Cemetery.
Viola Helen (Geistfeld) Fiene was born on May 22, 1924, in Wood Lake, to Henry and Lena Geistfeld. She grew up on the family farm, was baptized, confirmed, and later married at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church. Viola graduated with honors from Wood Lake High School and was the Secretary of her class in 1942. On June 22, 1943, she was united in marriage to Roland Fiene while he was on furlough from the Army. She took the train to Fort Belvoir in Virginia to be with Rolly as he finished his basic training. When Rolly left to serve in the Pacific Theatre in World War II, Viola returned to the family farm. After his honorable discharge, the couple moved onto a farm in Posen Township. In 1964, they moved to the family farm where they lived until their retirement in 1982 when they moved into a home in Wood Lake. Viola was a hard working farm-wife and also served as a cook for St. Luke’s Lutheran School. Later, she was a cook at Gus’s Café in Wood Lake. Viola was an excellent cook and was famous throughout the region for her homemade buns and coffee cakes. Anyone who visited her and Rolly could not leave their home until they had a “little lunch” which always turned out to be a spread. She enjoyed fishing, playing cards, gardening, visiting friends and relatives, sewing and attending her monthly “Birthday Club” gatherings. Viola was most passionate about her family and she was an extraordinary wife, mom, grandma and great grandma. She always enjoyed helping others in any way she could. She was a Charter Member of the American Legion Post 556 Auxiliary and an active and lifelong member of St. Luke’s Lutheran Church and Ladies Aide.
Viola died on Wednesday, September 16, 2020, at the Woodstone Senior Living Center in New Ulm, MN. She is survived by her children Jerome (and Ann) Fiene of Prairie du Sac, WI, Carolyn (and Lee) DeLaCruz of Mankato, Shirley (and Jeff) Ackerson of Spicer, Richard (and Shannon) Fiene of Echo, 10 grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and extended family and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband and six brothers and their spouses.
