Violet Werner

Violet Elizabeth Werner was born on February 8, 1925, to James Werdna and Alice (Richardson) Calkins in Flandreau, South Dakota. She was raised on a farm north of Flandreau and attended country school. Upon completion of her education, she helped at home. She also helped clean for several area families. In the 1950s, she moved with her parents and brother, James, to a farm near Brookings, South Dakota. Then, in the 1960s, she moved to Sioux Falls, South Dakota where she cleaned for over 50 families. On April 17, 1977, she was united in marriage to Vernon Werner at the First United Methodist Church in Sioux Falls. After their marriage, they lived in Hatfield, Minnesota where Violet helped on the farm. She also cleaned for families and did some home health care in the Pipestone area. In the 1980s, they moved into Pipestone where Violet continued cleaning and doing home health care. Violet became a resident of Falls Landing Assisted Living on March 29, 2014 and lived there until November 20, 2024 when she moved to the Good Samaritan Society in Pipestone. To this date Violet was the longest-term resident of Falls Landing. Falls Landing was indeed her home and the staff there were more like her extended family. While at Falls Landing, Violet would take the taxi literally every day that it ran and go to Good Sam to spend the day with Vernon until his passing on November 13, 2019. Violet passed away peacefully on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, at the Good Samaritan Society in Pipestone at the age of 100 years, 8 months, and 6 days.

While living in the Flandreau area, Violet was a member of the Methodist Church where she was baptized. When she moved to Sioux Falls, she transferred her membership to First United Methodist Church there. After her marriage to Vernon, she again transferred her membership to Peace United Methodist Church in Pipestone where she was a member of the UMW, the church circles, the Pastoral Care Team, the Prayer Fellowship Group, and Deanna Bahn's Adult Bible Class. She volunteered to visit the residents of the Good Samaritan Village and received her 11-year certificate in 2007. She also volunteered at the Ashton Care Center, and the church shut-ins. Vernon and Violet enjoyed one trip with a chestnut mare and cart in the wagon train to Prairie Village in Madison, South Dakota. Violet enjoyed a special friendship with Carol & Paul Johnson. She also enjoyed embroidering, crocheting, patchwork, caring for flowers, gardening and canning.

She is lovingly remembered by her nephew, Steve Werner of Pipestone, Minnesota; and other nieces, nephews, and relatives. She was preceded in death by her husband, Vernon; her parents, James and Alice; two sisters, Mildred Schulze and Ethel Heinricy; and one brother, James Calkins.