Viola C Laird

Viola Catherine Laird, age 94 of Mankato, died Tuesday, April 12, 2005 at Sibley Manor East in Mankato.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 11:00 a.m. Friday, April 15, 2005 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church with Rev. Richard Colletti officiating. Burial will be in Glenwood Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m. Thursday at Mankato Mortuary with a 6:30 p.m. prayer service. Visitation will continue one hour prior to services at the church on Friday. Memorials are preferred to St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Mankato Lutheran Home or to an organization of the donors choice.

Viola was born February 18, 1911 in Iona, Minnesota to Joseph and Elizabeth (Hoffman) Disch. She attended Slayton High School and graduated in 1929. After graduation, she moved to Mankato. On April 24, 1938, she married Dallas J. Laird in Mankato. For many years, Viola was a clerk and buyer for Bretts Department Store and retired in 1974.

Viola was a member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church. She enjoyed dancing, reading, playing bridge and was an avid Twins fan.

Survivors include her three children and their spouses, Sandra and Phil Middleton of Kansas City, KS, Connie and James Skalicky of Owatonna, Patrick and Dianne Laird of Mankato; nine grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; three sisters, Armella Kellen and husband, Leo of Mankato, Alvina Crowley of Iona, MN, Rita McDonald of Duluth, MN; three brothers and their wives, Joe and Florence Disch of Slayton, Gene and Eleanor Disch of Duluth, Jack and Mary Ann Disch of Fairfield, OH; nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Dallas in 1974; a special friend, Harry Patnaude; a daughter, Maureen in 1999, and a brother, Gordon.