Viola A. Christenson

Mason City Viola A. Christenson, age 83, of Mason City, died Thursday, December 24, 2009, at the Good Shepherd Health Center. Memorial services will be held at 1:00 PM, Wednesday (March 31, 2010) at Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania Avenue, with Chaplain Kent Mechler of Good Shepherd Health Center officiating. Friends are invited to join the family for coffee and cookies one hour prior to the service. Inurnment will be at the Clear Lake Cemetery in Clear Lake. Memorials may be directed to the Viola Christenson memorial fund in care of the family.

Viola was born on August 7, 1926 in Burchinal, IA, the daughter of Harry and Eva (Best) Bowlin. She attended school in Burchinal. Viola married Alvin Medlin on May 31, 1947 in Clear Lake, Iowa. She later married Merrill Christenson on June 5, 1964 in Albert Lea, Minnesota. She worked as a nurses aid for Ritters and then worked in house keeping at Mercy Hospital for 10 years. She enjoyed her family and friends.

Prior to recent health problems she would walk to anywhere she needed to go instead of driving her car. She especially liked to walk to the park and the area around the library. She had an extensive owl collection and enjoyed reading and helping the other people in her apartment building. She loved old country music especially Johnny Cash,she knew all the words and loved to sing and dance.
She will be missed by all who were touched by her sense of humor and quick wit.

Viola is survived by her children: Joseph Medlin and wife Sherry of Altoona, IA, Julie Rubalcava and husband John of Cedar Rapids, IA, Connie Strom of New Sharon, IA; seven grandchildren: Bobbie, John, Ben, Joe, Jason, Julie, and Jennifer; two great grandchildren: Jemma and Starla

She was preceded in death by her parents, and two husbands.