Violet "Vi" Ann Manthei

Violet “Vi” Ann (Olson) Manthei, age 87, of Mapleton passed away, May 9, 2019 at the Mapleton Community Home.

Funeral service will be held at 11am, Monday, May 13, 2019 at St. John Lutheran Church in Mapleton with visitation beginning at 9:30am. Reverend Jan Crissinger will be officiating. Burial will follow at Union Cemetery in Mapleton. Olson-Tichenor Funeral Home in Mapleton is assisting the family with arrangements.

Vi was born November 20, 1931 to Oscar and Hertha (Bauman) Olson of Granada, MN. She grew up on her family’s farm and graduated from Granada High in 1949. Vi began working for Continental Can in Stockton, California in 1949. She worked at Continental Can until her retirement in 1992. She commuted to La Crosse, WI for 5 of those years, the rest were in Mankato. Vi was introduced to Don Manthei when she came to Mapleton to purchase her first car, a 1953 Ford.  They were united in marriage on December 27, 1953.

Vi was a selfless person and always put the needs of her family first.

Vi had a passion for providing for her family, whether it was helping her husband and sons in the field or preparing meals and desserts for her grandchildren. The quickest way to put a smile on her face was to have a family member walk through the front door. She enjoyed the simple pleasures in life; quiet time reading a good book or having a cup of coffee to catch up with her neighborhood friends. She was a member of St. John Lutheran Church of Mapleton and Mapleton VFW Auxiliary.

Vi is survived by her two sons, Tim (Terri Maass) Manthei and Lee (Lisa) Manthei; four grandchildren Jessica (Craig) Smith, Jill (Ben Stenzel) Manthei, Craig (Jennifer Reetz) Manthei and Justin Manthei; two great-grandchildren Ellie and Ethan Smith; sister, Ellen Sanders; and two nieces, Vickie (Steve) Dunn and Nadine (Huck Hensley) Sanders.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; brother-in-law, LeRoy “Corky” Sanders; sisters-in-law, Alice (Waldo) Randall, Emmy (Merlin) Burgeson, and Judy Gernander.