Viola Mae Pierce

Mankato Mortuary
388-2202

Viola Mae Pierce, age 85 of Mankato, died Thursday, May 26, 2011 at Oaklawn Health Care Center, Mankato.

Funeral Service will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, June 1, 2011 at Mankato Mortuary. Visitation will be held one hour before service on Wednesday. Burial will be held at 3:30 p.m., Wednesday at Garden City Cemetery, Garden City.

Viola was born May 6, 1926 to David and Esther (Rorman) Van Brunt in Martin County, MN. She was united in marriage to Chester "Mike" Pierce March 23, 1944 in Winnebago, MN. Viola was a co-owner of Pierce Lockers in Armstrong, IA for 19 years and owner of Vi's Drapery Workshop in Armstrong and later Garden City. She was a former member of the 1st Presbyterian Church in Lake Crystal and more currently a member of Grace Baptist in Mankato. Viola was a member of the Eastern Star Cereal Chapter, Women of the Moose Lodge, and College of the Regents. She was a seamstress forever and made wedding dresses and other gowns for weddings and prom. Viola hand pieced and quilted many quilts. While in her drapery shop, she covered thousands of windows with her husband's help and continued to do many alterations even in the last years of her life.

Viola is survived by her three daughters, Myrna (Douglas) Whitesell of Armstrong, IA; Kathryn Pierce of Rapid City, SD; Inez (Bruce) Hasara of Lake Park, IA; one son, Kenneth (Judie) Pierce of Sway City, IA; 12 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; 2 great-great grandchildren; brother, William Van Brunt of Nisswa, MN; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Viola was preceded in death by her husband in 1991; daughter; grandson; great-granddaughter; great-great-granddaughter; three sisters; two brothers.