Viola Virginia Stolz of rural Sykeston died Tuesday evening, July 22, at Golden Acres Manor, Carrington, ND, at the age of 88.

Viola was born to William and Rosa (Schmidt) Voth on March 19, 1926.  She grew up in the New Home area (rural Woodworth/Sykeston) attending country schools in Lowery Township for her elementary schooling.  She graduated from Sheyenne River Academy, Harvey, ND, in 1943, and then Union College Lincoln, NE, with a degree in Secretarial Science.  She married Lawrence Stolz in 1946, in Jamestown, ND. She worked briefly in Jamestown as a secretary and then worked harder than ever raising 3 children and helping on the farm. 

Viola wasn’t always the most talkative in a crowd of people but her presence was strongly felt with her kindness and her ready, beautiful smile. She was a very considerate hostess and a wonderful cook who entertained guests frequently in her home as well as making others, her children and grandchildren always feel welcome.  Those who knew her share her story memories of the days of going to town with horses, heating rocks and wrapping them in blankets to keep warm and surviving blizzards by trusting the horses to lead them home. She kept impeccable records and was quite the historian.  She loved tending her vegetable and flower gardens. 

Viola is survived by her son, Larry (Joye) Stolz, rural Sykeston; son-in-law, Merlyn Gottfried, Stewart, MN;  Grandchildren:  Desiree Gottfried, Loma Linda, CA;  Darin Gottfried (Stephanie), Topeka, KS; Michael Stolz, Berrien Springs, MI; and Jordan Stolz, Sykeston, ND. 

She was preceded in death by her husband Lawrence, daughters Kelly Stolz and Laurie Gottfried and a sister, Adeline Liebelt.

FUNERAL SERVICE:

New Home Seventh-Day Adventist Church, rural Sykeston, ND

DATE AND TIME:

Sunday, July 27, 2014 at 2:00PM

BURIAL:

New Home Seventh-Day Adventist Cemetery