Viola C. Head

Funeral services will be on Monday, April 30, 2007 at 11:00 a.m. at Salem Lutheran Church in St. Cloud for Viola C. Head, age 89 of St. Cloud who passed away on Wednesday, April 25, 2007 at Talahi Care Center in St. Cloud. Pastor Wayne Anderson will officiate. Burial will be in North Star Cemetery, St. Cloud.

Friends may call from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Sunday at the Daniel Funeral Home in St. Cloud and one hour prior to the services at the church on Monday. There will be a prayer service at 7:00 p.m. on Sunday at the funeral home in St. Cloud.

Viola was born June 29, 1917, on a farm near Peterson, Iowa. Her early childhood years were spent growing up on farms near Webb and Sutherland, Iowa, where she also attended grade school. She graduated from High School in Peterson, Iowa on May 24, 1934. Viola was confirmed Oct. 7, 1934 at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church near Peterson. In 1936 she graduated from Iowa State Teacher’s College in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Viola taught elementary school in Webb, Iowa for several years.

On December 18, 1944, Viola married LaVell Wendel Head in Cleveland, Ohio. She also worked at the Civil Defense Plant in Cleveland during the war. After her marriage, she and LaVell lived in Kansas until they moved to a farm near Spencer, Iowa. They became the parents of five daughters. After her husband died unexpectedly on March 13, 1953, Viola and her daughters moved to Spencer, Iowa. Viola devoted her life to raising her daughters. She was active at Trinity Lutheran Church in Spencer, where she taught Sunday School. In 1961 Viola moved to St. Cloud, MN where she continued to raise her daughters. She worked several years at Fingerhut and County Manor Nursing Home in St. Cloud. She was a member of Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church where she taught Sunday School and was active in church circle.

Viola will be remembered for her devotion to her family and her positive outlook on life. She taught Christian values because she lived them and was an inspiration to many people. Viola always knew current events because she loved reading, especially newspapers. Viola also enjoyed camping and gardening.

Viola is survived by her five daughters: Carol Zoffka of St. Cloud; Cheryl (John) Mayers of Oak Grove; Marilyn (Bob) St. Onge of Scituate, MA; Marcia (Mike) Voorhees of Fergus Falls; and Linda Head of Minneapolis; 14 grandchildren: Michelle (Mike) Zoffka, John (Colleen) Zoffka, Melissa Zoffka, Daniel Schramel; Maria (Scott) Erickson, Paula (Brian) Sahlstrom, Monica Mayers; Dane Larson, Patrice (Tom) Williams, Zachary and Jordan St. Onge; Sarah (Dave) Thacker, Hallie (Tony) Metcalf, Lucas (Alissa) Voorhees; 20 great grandchildren; one brother Arnold (Virgy) Rinken and three sisters, Dorothy (Harley) Douglas, Catherine Powers and Gladys Johnson.

Preceding Viola in death were her husband, LaVell Head; father Bernard Rinken, mother Minnie Rinken Restan; brothers, Bernard, Virgil and Minert Rinken and one sister, Henrietta Carey.