click here to view the video tribute for Viola
Viola June Davis was born in Ada, MN, on May 2, 1928, to Raymond and Minnie (Pagel) Ford. She grew up on the family farm near Ada and attended school.
On June 22, 1946, she was married to Norman T. Davis in Bemidji, MN. They lived in Bemidji and Dilworth, MN, before moving to Moorhead in 1953, where Viola lived until March of 2006. Norman and Viola were charter members of Hope Lutheran Church in North Fargo. While raising their family, Norman and Viola lived on their hobby farm which included raising many different types of animals, including geese and ducks. They enjoyed camping, ice fishing, and visiting family and friends. Norman passed away in April of 1996.
In later years, Viola was blessed with many grandchildren and great- grandchildren, with whom she took special interest. Time spent with "Gramma Davis" was always a wonderful time which also included enjoying her great cooking. For several years, Viola was a demonstrator for food products at Sunmart. Because of changing health needs she became a resident of the Eventide Living Center in Moorhead, where she was active in showing movies, baking, and enjoying the company of others. Her zest for life spanned her years even while undergoing treatment for colon cancer since July. Viola died at Innovis Health on Friday evening, August 17, at the age of 79 years.
Her surviving family includes: two daughters, one son and their spouses, Sharon (Tom) Perez of Moorhead, Dennis (Sue) Davis of Sioux Falls, SD, and Diane (Randy) Andreasen of Glyndon; six grandchildren, Chris (April) Perez of Eden Prairie, MN, Missy Perez of Fargo, Tim LaRue of Moorhead, Tyrell LaRue of Fargo, Becky (Derek) Berg of Sioux Falls, and Brian Davis of Brookings, SD; four great-grandchildren, Darian Hanson of Moorhead, and Alex, Elizabeth, and Mya Perez of Eden Prairie; six step-grandchildren, Matthew Severson, Melissa Evenson, Corey, Todd, Erin and Kirby Andreasen.
Also surviving are three sisters and one brother, Valores Larson of Mahnomen, MN, Betty (Les) Klev of Cohasset, MN, Shirley (Dean) Larson of Mahnomen, and Delmar Ford of Mora, MN.
Besides her husband, Viola was preceded in death by her parents.
Visitation: Monday from 5 - 7 PM in Korsmo Funeral Chapel, Moorhead, with a prayer service at 7 PM, in Korsmo Funeral Chapel.
Funeral Service: Tuesday, August 21, 2007, at 1 PM in Hope Lutheran Church, north campus, Fargo, ND.
Burial: Moorhead Memorial Gardens.