Viola Sinness

Funeral services were held Friday, Aug. 13, 2010, at Zion Lutheran Church, Churchs Ferry, for Viola C. Sinness, 93, of Devils Lake, who died Saturday, Aug. 7 at Heartland Care Center in Devils Lake.

Burial was in I.O.O.F. Cemetery, Cando.

Viola was born Sept. 13, 1916, in rural Benson County, a daughter of Frank and Sophia (Westad) Peterson. She attended school in Aurora Township, Benson County. She married Oscar Sinness on Sept. 22, 1934, at her parents’ home in rural Maddock. The couple moved to York in 1935, and farmed there until 1941, at which time they purchased a farm near Maza. They retired from farming in 1971. Oscar died May 15, 1975. She continued to live on the farm for several years and later moved to Churchs Ferry, then Devils Lake.

She is survived by four daughters, Vivian Gilbertson, Devils Lake, Sylvia Helgeseth, Churchs Ferry, Evelyn Christensen, Omaha, Neb., and Audrey Speed, Thornton, Colo.; four sons, Donald, Golden, Colo., Thomas, Tellico Plains, Tenn., James, Casselton, and Robert, Longmont, Colo.; 22 grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; more than 40 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandson; two sisters, Wilma Brown and Irene Treakle, and two brothers, Glenn and Duane Peterson, all of Washington.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; two sons, David and LeRoy; seven brothers, Floyd, Alvin, Chester, Stanley, Lyle, Orvin, and Vernon Peterson; and two sisters, Florence and Elvera.

Pastor Richard Budd officiated. Music was provided by Doris Michaels, organist, and Darlene Albertson, soloist.

Pallbearers were Randy, Jay, and Scott Gilbertson, Chip and Brent Rognlie, BJ Mikan, Brad Sinness, Jeff Sinness, and Ryan Sinness.

Arrangements by Nelson Funeral Home, Leeds.