Viola C. Sinness passed away Saturday, August 7, 2010, at the Heartland Care Center in Devils Lake, ND, at the age of 93.  Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, August 13, 2010, at Zion Lutheran Church in Churchs Ferry, with Pastor Richard Budd officiating.  Burial will be beside her husband at the Cando (ND) IOOF Cemetery.  Visitation will be at Zion on Thursday from 4 to 7 p.m. with a 7 p.m. prayer service.  Music at the funeral service will be provided by Doris Michaels, organist, and Darlene Albertson, soloist.  Pallbearers will be her grandsons:  Randy, Jay and Scott Gilbertson, Chip and Brent Rognlie, BJ Mikan, Brad Sinness, Jeff Sinness and Ryan Sinness.

Viola Christine Peterson was born September 13, 1916, in rural Benson County to Frank and Sophia (Westad) Peterson.  She attended school in Aurora Township, Benson County.  She married Oscar Sinness on September 22, 1934, at the home of her parents in rural Maddock, ND.  They moved to York, ND, in 1935 and farmed there until 1941, at which time they purchased a farm near Maza, ND.  They retired from farming in 1971.  Following Mr. Sinness' death on May 15, 1975, she continued to live on the farm for several years and later moved to Churchs Ferry and then to Devils Lake.

Viola is survived by four daughters, Vivian (Gerald) Gilbertson, Devils Lake; Sylvia (Arden) Helgeseth, Churchs Ferry; Evelyn (William) Christensen, Omaha, NE; and Audrey (Rodney) Speed, Thornton, CO; and four sons, Donald (Nadine), Golden, CO; Thomas (Martha), Tellico Plains, TN; James (Karen), Casselton, ND; and Robert, Longmont, CO; and a daughter-in-law, Nancy Sinness, Phoenix, AZ.  She is also survived by 22 grandchildren, 3 step-grandchildren, more than 40 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandson.  Survivors also include two sisters, Wilma Brown and Irene Treakle, and two brothers, Glenn (Nancy) Peterson and Duane (Martha) Peterson, all of Washington.

In addition to her parents and her husband, she was preceded in death by two sons, David in 2007 and LeRoy in 2009; a son-in-law, Charles Rognlie, in 1986; seven brothers, Floyd, Alvin, Chester, Stanley, Lyle, Orvin and Vernon Peterson; and two sisters, Florence and Elvera.



Condolences:

My sincere sympathy to the Sinness family on the passing of your dear mother. When I was growing up and attending Cando Lutheran, I remember all the Sinness family coming to church. Tom was in my class, and I believe there were two in my older brothers, Terry and Douglas' class. Your mother was a dear, dear, person, and will be truly missed by many. Dianne (Hogenson) Hyndman

Our thoughts are with you at this time.  God will give you the strength you need.  With prayers & sympathy, Marie Perich Loven

We send our sincere sympathy to all of you.     David and Patsy Madsen

Our thoughts and prayers are with Viola,s family at this time.  She is in a much better place now with no suffering.  Blessings to you all.       Kirk and Carol Cowan

I remember your family fondly from Cando Lutheran.  I am thinking of you all in the loss of your dear mother.          Karen (Newman) Midgarden