Viola Groen

Viola Groen, 77, of Fargo, ND, died Tuesday, January 10, 2012 at Essentia Health, Fargo, ND. Viola was born June 21, 1933 at her grandmother’s home in Steele County, near Hatton, ND, to Lockerd and Therese (Tveten) Thompson. The family moved to Union Township in Grand Forks county, where Viola attended all 8 grades in a one-room country school. Viola graduated from Hatton High School in 1951. During her senior year she met Ed Groen, who was working in Hatton. Viola moved to Fargo and worked at Osco Drug on Broadway. Viola and Ed were married on January 6, 1952, at Evangelical Lutheran Church in Breckenridge, MN, and lived in Fargo. On April 1, 1953, Lynn was born. On October 6, 1955, Garrit was born, followed by Valerie on February 10, 1957. Ed and Viola lived in western North Dakota where Ed worked on oil rigs for a few years. They moved to Milnor where Lynn was beginning school. Ed was the Chief of Police and Vi was well known for her cooking and baking at the local café. School kids would stand in line for her doughnuts and long johns. She passed her baking and cooking skills on to friends, neighbors, and family. After Ed’s death in 1994, Viola moved to Fargo. Their passion was to spend time at Rose Lake, near Vergas, MN, where they met and made lifelong friends who became family. She brought her cooking and baking skills (especially her caramel rolls) to her neighbors at the lake. In April of 2010, Viola moved to Waterford Assisted Living in Fargo and enjoyed living there. Viola is survived by her children Lynn (Laura) of Golden, CO, Garrit (Sandy) of Fargo, ND, Valerie of West Fargo, ND, and her ‘other son’ Owen Oltman of Fargo, ND; special niece Peg; six grandchildren Jenny, Luke, Krystal, Shaunna, Elesha, and Josh; brothers Wayne (Joey) Thompson of AZ, Gene (Cathy) Thompson of Hatton, ND, and Rodney (Julie) Thompson of Hatton, ND; sisters Eileen Helgeson of Moorhead, MN, Shirley (Cecil) Cordahl of Park Rapids, MN, and Lorna Nicholson of AZ. She is also survived by four aunts and one uncle. She was preceded in death by her husband Ed, her parents, brother Jerry Thompson, and her grandparents. Viola had many very dear close friends who were like family members to her. Funeral Service: Monday, January 23rd, 2012, at 2:00PM at Hanson-Runsvold Funeral Home, Fargo. Visitation: One hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Burial: Lakeside Cemetery, Milnor, ND, on Tuesday, January 24th at 2:00PM.