Viola Marie Karstedt

Viola Marie Karstedt, age 79, of Mankato and formerly of rural Mapleton, died Wednesday morning, September 10, 2003 at Immanuel-St. Josephs Hospital in Mankato.

Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m. Friday at St. Johns Lutheran Church in Mapleton with Rev. Richard Salge officiating. Burial will be in Union Cemetery. Visitation will be one hour prior to services at the church on Friday. Mankato Mortuary is handling arrangements.

Viola was born December 13, 1923 in Mankato to Louis and Mary (Lerch) Miller. She attended Mankato High School. On July 18, 1943, she married John Fredrick Karstedt in Mapleton. They lived and farmed in the Mapleton area. Viola worked for 13 years at Finnegans in the meat department and had taught sewing for Singer Company. She was an accomplished seamstress and enjoyed knitting and crocheting. Viola would remember birthdays and special events by sending cards, giving her the title, card lady . She was a member of St. Johns Lutheran Church and the American Legion Auxiliary in Mapleton.

Viola is survived by daughter Mary Birr of Delavan; two sons-in-law, Rollin Carlson of Park Rapids and Dennis Jennings of San Diego, CA; eight grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; extended family, Kathy Larson of Sturgeon Lake; nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband; three daughters, Patricia Jennings, Pauline Carlson, and Bonita Harrod; nine brothers and one sister.