Violet L. Levin Ostendorf

Violet L. Levin Ostendorf, age 88, Cold Spring, Minn., formerly of Long Prairie, Minn., passed away, Tuesday, March 28, 2017, at the Assumption Home in Cold Spring.

 

Violet Loretta Wells, was born Dec. 26, 1928, in New Underwood to George Wells and Evelyn Violet (Hunter) Bills.                                                                                               She was raised near Viewfield where she attended grade school at the Lost Nation School and New Underwood High School where she was valedictorian of the Class of 1946. Upon attending summer school at Spearfish’s Black Hills Teachers College, she received a teaching certificate and taught country school in the Hereford area.

 

Violet was united in marriage to Clarence Levin Sept. 22, 1946, in Sturgis. This union was blessed with five children. Clarence and Violet lived in Hereford until November 1954 when they moved to a dairy farm near Long Prairie. In 1970, they sold the farm and purchased a home on the shore of Lake Charlotte, a mile from Long Prairie.  

 

Violet always had a desire to go back to teaching. In 1968, she began a three-year daily commute, including summer school, from Long Prairie to attend Saint Cloud State College. She earned two bachelor of science degrees and in 1976 she completed her master's degree. The next 15 years she taught at the Long Prairie elementary school. Her most rewarding position was helping students who needed additional assistance in developing their reading skills.

 

Violet was an A average student all through high school and won many spelling awards including winning the 2016 Spelling Bee at Assumption Home.

                                                                         

 In August 1978, Clarence and Violet went on a trip-of-a-lifetime to Sweden with his brother and sister-in-law to visit relatives and the area where Clarence's family originated. Upon their return, Clarence passed away Aug. 21, 1978.

On Nov. 20, 1982, Violet married Jerome Ostendorf in Long Prairie. They spent a few years living on his dairy farm and their final years together at Violet's lake home. Jerome passed away in 2007.        

                                                                                        

Violet enjoyed teaching, flower gardening, lake shore gatherings, including frogging with the neighbor ladies and daughter Carol, old time dancing, reading, office work for her son, Les, at Levin Electric, crafts, especially quilting. Many family members and friends enjoy the loving warmth of her special design quilts. She enjoyed her coffee time with friends and especially cherished her twice daily coffee/cookie time with long-time friends, John and Marlene Nelson joined by Dr. Phil in the afternoon. We always knew where we could find her! In later years, she enjoyed a variety of activities with friends at Valley View in Long Prairie and Assumption Home in Cold Spring. She enjoyed many trips to western South Dakota to visit family members, trips with her children, and a tour to Ireland.    

 

Violet was an active member of Zion United Church of Christ/ Peace United Church in Long Prairie, serving in many capacities until her health determined it was time for her to leave her lake home.

 

Violet was a dedicated, loving mother, wife, grandmother and great-grandmother. She will be remembered for her kind and caring personality, willing to help anyone.

 

Violet is survived by her loving family: children and spouses, Viola (Roland) Kuehne, Watertown, Carol (Tom) John, Cold Spring; Les Levin, Long Prairie, Leroy Levin (special friend Susan), Richardson, Texas, and son-in-law David Roeker, Hudson, Wis.; grandchildren, Sheila Johnson, Darlene (Joe Wharton) Sky, Denita Sassor (special friend Blake), Jason (Anne) Levin, Aaron (Jill) Levin, Brian (Connie) Levin, Brooklyn Levin, Robert Levin, Ashley (Ronny) Neira, Jake (Beth) John, Brian Roeker, Laura Roeker, Jamie (Otis Ostendorf) Meyer, Josh Meyer; great-grandchildren Brody Johnson, Kalley Levin, Wyatt Levin, Natalie Levin, Brayden Levin, Hudson Levin, Zander Levin, Connor Neira, Owen John, Collin Johnson, Christopher Neira, Brynlee Ostendorf, Brea Ostendorf andKaylee Levin; brother Richard Bills, Black Canyon City, Ariz.’; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

 

Violet is preceded in death by her husband, Clarence Levin; husband, Jerome Ostendorf;  parents, George Wells and Evelyn Violet (Hunter) Bills; daughter, Darla Roeker; grandson, Chad Kuehne; brothers and sisters-in-law, Francis (Mary) Bills, Herbert (Lucille) Bills, Barbara Bills and George Bills. 

 

Casketbearers were Violet’s grandsons. Honorary pallbearers were Violet’s granddaughters.

 

Funeral services were Friday, March 31, 2017, at Peace United Church, Long Prairie. Rev. Gary Taylor officiated.

Internment was at the Evergreen Cemetery, Long Prairie.

 

Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Williams Dingmann Funeral Home-Stein Chapel, Long Prairie.

 

Online guestbook available at www.williamsdingmann.com.