ESTHERVILLE — Viola A. Steenhard died Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2020, at the Good Samaritan Society in Estherville, Iowa, at the age of 94.

Private family services will be held.

Viola A. Steenhard was born Oct. 8, 1926, in Fairmont, Minn., the daughter of Milo and Anna (Knueppel) Cheney. She was raised in Fairmont, Minn., and much of her childhood was during the Depression Era in America. She and her four siblings had many stories to tell about being raised in that era and it left a lasting effect on their lives. She was fortunate to have her Cheney and Knueppel grandparents living in Fairmont also and spent many happy hours with family. Viola received her education and graduated from Fairmont High school.

Viola was united in marriage to Earl Berg. They moved to Swea City, Iowa, to start their life together.

Viola became an integral part of her new community. She raised four children, was a Cub Scout den mother, a founding member of the VFW Auxiliary and held several offices locally and in the district organization, and enjoyed being part of the Federated Women’s group in Swea City.

The family attended the First Baptist Church. She worked at the Applequist Grocery Store for many years, and later worked as the bookkeeper at the local lumberyard.

The couple later divorced.

Viola and her son, Eric, then became members of the United Methodist Church, where she enjoyed the women’s groups and served as an officer.

On Sept. 26, 1981, she was united in marriage to Ray Steenhard. The couple made their home in Swea City.

Ray and Viola loved to attend their grandchildren’s events, travel, had a passion for attending flea markets, and they also loved spending time with Ray’s nieces, nephews and families.

For hobbies, she enjoyed community concerts, crossword puzzles, Jeopardy, sewing, reading and classical music.

Left to cherish Viola’s memory are her children, Larry (Jennifer) Berg, Edward (Becky) Berg, Penny (Tom) Gregory, Eric (Shelly) Berg; 13 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; sibling, Ervin Cheney; and sister-in-law, Stella Cheney.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Ray; sister, Melva, brothers, Harlan and George; brother-in-law, Art Schultz; and sisters-in-law, Lois Cheney and Pearl Cheney.

www.henryolsonfuneral.com

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