VIOLA ELGERSMA, age 83, of rural Leota, died Monday, March 7, 2016 at the Hospice Home in Pipestone, MN. She was born March 26, 1932 in Rock Valley, Iowa to parents Edward and Alice (DeJong) Swier. As an early teenager she made profession of faith in the Rock Valley Christian Reformed Church. Viola graduated from the Rock Valley Public High School. She worked as a bookkeeper in the Rock Valley Bank. In 1953, she moved with her family to Phoenix, Arizona and worked as a teller in a Scottsdale, Arizona bank.
Viola was united in marriage to Bernard Elgersma on February 17, 1955 in the Christian Reformed Church in Phoenix, Arizona. After their marriage they moved to Ireton, Iowa and were engaged in farming. After two years they moved to a farm near Magnolia, MN; and four years later moved to a farm north of Leota, MN; where they made their home. They spent their whole married life farming and she loved driving the tractors.
She was a member of the Ebenezer Christian Reformed Church in Leota and was a Sunday school teacher, served on the committee on disability concerns and was a Calvinette Counselor. She was also a volunteer teachers aid at Leota Christian School for nine years, Crossroad Bible Institute Instructor, Foster Mother to nine children, Hospice Volunteer in Slayton, served on the Advisory Board of Social Service, Murray County, a 4-H Leader and Sowers, (Servants on Wheels Ever Ready.) She loved to read and sew for her family and traveling. Bernard and Viola spent time enjoying God's creation in all 50 states.
Viola is survived by her husband, Bernard Elgersma, Leota, MN; children, Roger Elgersma, Sioux Falls, SD; Michael (Sisi) Elgersma, Plymouth, MN; and Mary (Larry) Van Korlaar, Colorado, Springs, CO; nine foster children, including Michelle Johnson Long, Atlanta, GA; six grandchildren and five great grandchildren, siblings, Fran DeJoode, Grace Tuenissen, Lawrence Swier, Bernard Swier, Clarence Swier, Ruth Beukema and Edward Swier.
She was preceded in death by her parents; one sister and two brothers.
Visitation will be Friday March 11 from 9:30 to 11:00 at Ebenezer Christian Reformed Church in Leota.
Funeral Service will be at 11:00 am at Ebenezer Christian Reformed Church in Leota. Burial will be at Leota Community Cemetery Leota, Mn. The Leota Burial association and the Dingmann Funeral Home of Adrian will be in charge of arrangements

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