Funeral services for 94-year-old Viola Menken of Springfield, Minnesota, will be held at 3 p.m. on Sunday afternoon, August 3, 2014, at the United Methodist Church in Jeffers, Minnesota. The church is located at 411 East Whited.
Interment will be at 4 p.m. the same day at the Jeffers Cemetery.
Visitation will be at the church one hour prior to the service.
LaCanne Family Funeral Home of Windom, Minnesota, is handling the arrangements.
Viola passed away on Thursday morning, July 31, 2014, at St. John’s Lutheran Home in Springfield.
Viola Clara (Pankonin) Menken, the daughter of Emil and Katie (Rupp) Pankonin, was born on May 20, 1920, in Germantown Township, Cottonwood County, Minnesota. She was baptized in infancy and became a lifelong member of the Jeffers United Methodist Church, where she taught Sunday School and was leader of the youth group (MYF) for many years. Viola received her education in rural country school, District #35.
She was united in marriage to John Menken on September 1, 1938, at the Red Rock Evangelical Church. They established their home on a farm near Jeffers and raised their family of three daughters, Beverly, La Von and Joyce. They retired from farming and moved into Jeffers in 1977. This move allowed them to live close to family and friends.
Viola was a charter member of the Green Thumb Garden Club and a member of the Jeffers Senior Citizens. She enjoyed being a homemaker, raising flowers, gardening, reading and entertaining family and friends. She was devoted to her family, friends and church and was always willing to help others. Viola loved and enjoyed her family and the extended family of grandchildren and spouses, great-grandchildren and son-in-laws.
Viola and Jon enjoyed many happily married years together and celebrated their 74th wedding anniversary. Together they spent 21 winters at Apache Junction, Arizona, making new and lasting friendships. They enjoyed traveling together and the highlight of their lifetime was traveling on a European Agriculture travel tour. They visited eight countries in Europe. They have also been to and through all states in the United States.
Survivors include two daughters, La Von (Allen) Thomas of Sun Prairie, Wisconsin and Joyce (David) Jorgenson of Jeffers; one son-in-law, Richard Engen of Lamberton, Minnesota; seven grandchildren, Cathy Halter, Kenneth Engen, Angela Alligretti, Nathan Thomas, Kerri Knips, Lisa Dunkelberger and Kimberly Davis; 14 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandson; one brother, George Pankonin of Lamberton; one sister, Arlene Orloske of Windom and many nieces, nephews and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, John Menken; one daughter, Beverly; two granddaughters; one brother; three sisters-in-law and nine brothers-in-law.
