Viola “Vi” Jordre, age 95, of New Rockford, ND, formerly of Oberon, ND, died Tuesday, July 19, 2016, at Lutheran Home of the Good Shepherd, New Rockford.

Viola Evelyn Erickson was born May 23, 1921, in Rock Township, Benson County, ND, the youngest of 7 children born to Olaf and Laura (Sondrall) Erickson. She grew up near Sheyenne, attended school there and graduated from Sheyenne High School in 1938. When Vi was only 18 months old, her mother became totally disabled and confined to bed. The younger children in the family took on many of the household duties. Vi’s mother was a church organist and she taught Vi to play, while listening from the next room where she was confided to her sick bed. Vi followed in her mother’s footsteps and became the organist for not only her own church, but many of the local churches as needed. Those duties lead to her being recognized with a plaque as “Oberon’s Music Maker” in 1988. Vi once reflected that she had played in excess of 600 weddings and funerals.

She was very active in the American Legion and Democratic Party for the span of many years.

Vi was united in marriage to Lloyd Jordre on September 11, 1940, at the Lutheran parsonage at Sheyenne, and moved into his parent’s home until their house was ready at the farm Lloyd had purchased near Oberon. Vi assisted with various duties on the farm including hauling grain every fall. One son, Nyle, was born into that union.  They lived on their Oberon farm until 1999, when Lloyd died. Vi then moved into town and remained there until moving to Heritage House in New Rockford in 2013.  In the spring of 2015, her mobility struggles began and she became a resident of Lutheran Home of the Good Shepherd.

She is survived by her son Nyle (Ann) Jordre, Aurora, CO; grandchildren Daren (Summer) Jordre, Klamath Falls, OR, Tracy (David) Joseph, San Francisco, CA; 3 great-grandchildren: Tyler, Devon, and Morgan Jordre of Klamath Falls, OR; and 13 nieces and nephews.

She was preceded by her husband Lloyd; 4 brothers Otto (Hilma) Erickson, Leif (Mary) Erickson, Ernest (Charlotte, Myrtle) Erickson, Clarence (Bunnie) Erickson; 2 sisters Margaret (Peter) Oros, Lillian (Earl) Melin; nephew Michael Oros and niece Mary Ellen Mulcare.

Vi’s family would like to thank the staff at Heritage House and Lutheran Home of the Good Shepherd for the care shown to her.

Memorials are suggested  to Hillside Cemetery,  c/o  3356 – 65th Ave. NE, Oberon, ND  58357

FUNERAL SERVICE:

Calvary Lutheran Church, Oberon, ND

DATE AND TIME:

Monday, July 25, 2016 at 10:00AM

BURIAL:

Hillside Cemetery, Oberon.