Lawrence "Larry" J. Viland

LAWRENCE JAMES VILAND...
was born to John and Tillie (Johnson) Viland on February 22, 1916 in Pipestone, Minnesota where he was raised and received his education. In 1935 Larry graduated from Pipestone High School. He went to work at Red Owl Grocery from 1935 to 1939 and then went to work at Red and White Grocery from 1939 to 1943. On November 30, 1941 Larry was united in marriage to Ruby Thompson at the Our Savior’s Lutheran Church parsonage in Luverne, Minnesota. Following their marriage the couple lived in Pipestone until moving to Luverne in 1945. In 1943, Larry began working as a milkman and ice cream maker for Forrest Dairy. Through his career the company became known as Terrace Park Ice Cream and later Land-O-Lakes Dairy. Larry retired from the company in March 1981. During his retirement they traveled to Hawaii, took a Caribbean cruise, and rode on a bus tour through California and the southwestern states. The couple also took many trips to Colorado to visit their son, Rodney and his wife. In October 2009, Larry and Ruby became residents at the Rock Rapids Health Center in Rock Rapids. On Saturday, July 26, 2014 Larry passed away peacefully there under hospice care at the age of 98 years, five months and four days.

Larry was a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Luverne. He enjoyed fishing and woodworking. He also enjoyed using his “green thumb” in the garden and perhaps had the largest garden in all of Minnesota. Larry enjoyed listening to music daily and had many CD’s of the “Big Bands”. Most of all he loved dancing with his favorite partner, Ruby. The couple travelled near and far just to dance to their favorite bands.

Larry is lovingly survived by his wife of 72 years, Ruby; daughter, Jeanne and her husband Steve Ellsworth of Rock Rapids; four grandchildren, Peggy (John) Metzger, Jason (Amy) Ellsworth, Vonda Viland (Vic) Machinski and Jon Viland; six great-grandchildren, Andrew Metzger, Ryan Metzger, Carter Ellsworth, Nathan Viland, David Machinski and Abbey Machinski; and other family and friends. He was preceded in death by his two sons, Jim and Rodney Viland; parents, John and Tillie; and two brothers, Donald and Clifford Viland.