Viola Mae (Parkhurst) Fuller, age 95, formerly of rural Hitchcock, entered heaven's garden on Friday, November 20, 2015. She died at the Neighborhoods at Brookview in Brookings, surrounded by her family.

A funeral service celebrating her life will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, November 24, at First Presbyterian Church in Bonilla with burial at Altoona Cemetery, rural Hitchcock.

Visitation, with the family present, will be Monday, November 23, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Welter Funeral Home with a prayer service at 7 p.m.; visitation also will occur one hour prior to the service on Tuesday.

Viola Mae Parkhurst was born on July 13, 1920, to Lyman D. and Sadie J. (Coffaa) Parkhurst. They lived on the Parkhurst family farmstead four miles south of Huron. She was the second youngest of 11 children. She attended country school through eighth grade and then attended Huron High School.

On January 31, 1942, Viola married Robert "Bob" Fuller in Crown Point, Ind. Married for nearly 69 years, the couple raised six children: Linda, Larry, Rosemary, Cindy, Wade and Jill. They lived on a farm west of Bonilla before moving to the Fuller family farm in 1955. The farm has been in the Fuller family for nearly 115 years and was named a South Dakota Century Farm by the state Department of Agriculture in 2002.

Viola was a beautiful person with a reserved and gentle spirit. She was a loving wife and mother. As a self-taught accomplished cook, she regularly prepared large meals for her extended family and farm helpers. Her homemade bread, caramel rolls, pies, and angel food cake were enjoyed by family and friends; her pheasant was a delicacy. She was a busy gardener who turned the fruits of her labor into a pantry and freezer full of seasonal delights for the long winter months. A gifted seamstress, Viola sewed much of the wardrobes for her children and grandchildren. She also was a talented crafter who blessed her family with many of her creations, including quilts, afghans, embroidered dish towels, and holiday decorations.

Viola's interests included many travels across the United States visiting her children and their families. She enjoyed caring for her beautiful flowers, dancing, and playing cards, especially whist, pinochle, and hand and foot. Viola's greatest joy in life was caring for her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Nothing made her happier than cradling a newborn baby. Her 15 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren (soon to be 15) gave her ample opportunity to do that throughout the years.

Viola was an active member of First Presbyterian Church in Bonilla, where she served as an elder and taught Sunday school. She was also a member of Presbyterian Women. Robert died on January 5, 2011. Viola moved from the farm in January 2014 to the Neighborhoods at Brookview in Brookings. On July 12, 2015, the family celebrated Viola's 95th birthday with a fun-filled party.

Viola is survived by five children: Linda (Herb) Widmer of Madras, Ore.; Larry (Connie) Fuller of Clitherall, Minn.; Rosemary (Bob) Berg of Pierre; Cindy (Patrick) Waligoske of Brookings; and Jill (Scott) Gehl of Rogers, Minn.; daughter-in-law Marge (Wade) Fuller of Hitchcock; 15 grandchildren: Justin Fuller of Hitchcock, Jane (Lucas) Mattke of Huron, Amy (Josh) Jones of Aberdeen; Sherry (David) Bordewyk and Robby (Melissa) Waligoske, all of Brookings; Robin (Jason) Skolnick of Colorado; Darcy (Jeff Mohr) Fuller, Michelle (Chris) Campbell, Tyler, Jenna and Riley Gehl, all of Minnesota; Jason (Louisa) Waligoske, Brett and Todd Werner, and Nikki Clowers (Knight), all of Oregon; 14 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

Viola was preceded in death by her husband Robert Fuller; one son, Wade Fuller in 2014; three sisters: Bernice (Paul) Spain, Alice Esades, and Ann (Howard) Weber; and six brothers: Basil, Lee, Alex (Lily), Dell (Martha), Bill (Mae) and Vern (Lucille); one infant sibling; and her parents.