Viola L. Goetz, 98, Java, SD, passed away Saturday, August 24, 2024 at the Bowdle Nursing Home.

 

Viola Lydia Ritter, daughter of Fred and Lydia (Pfeifle) Ritter, was born April 21, 1926, at Mobridge, SD, the youngest of four children. She attended country schools in the Promise area, south of Trail City, SD, through the 3rd grade. She attended Mobridge Public School from the 4th through 8th grade and then attended Northwestern Lutheran Academy High School in Mobridge, graduating in 1944. In the summer, during high school, Viola worked at the Lowe Hospital in Mobridge, cleaning and working in the kitchen. She applied to join the Nurses Corp, but by the time she was approved, she had already secured a school teaching position south of Java at the West Ryan School, staying at the Gust Bieber farm. She taught there for one year and then in the Summer of 1945, she attended Northern State Teachers College in Aberdeen, SD and received her teaching certificate. She returned to West Ryan School, where she taught for two additional years. In the Fall of 1945, Gary Haar introduced Viola to Robert Goetz at Job’s Café in Java. Robert and Viola were married June 1, 1947, at Zion Lutheran Church in Mobridge. Except for five years spent living on farms near Java, Robert and Viola lived their married life in Java.

In May 1967, Viola took a job with St. Paul Lutheran Church in Java as their custodian and continued at that job until April 1974, when she took a position at the Selby Good Samaritan Center, Selby, SD. In 1983, she attended the Pierre School of Nursing, Pierre, SD graduating with honors as an LPN. She continued her employment at the Good Samaritan Center until January 1990. She then returned to her former job as janitor of St Paul Lutheran, and retired when she was in her early 90s. Viola was an active member of St. Paul Lutheran Church, Java where she taught Sunday School and Bible School, was a member of the Women of the ELCA, and served on the council as their secretary and treasurer for many years. She was also a member of the Java American Legion Auxiliary, serving as secretary for many years. She served on the Java City Council, was a member of the Java Garden Club and was also a past member of the Java Home Arts Extension Club and the St. Paul Lutheran Church Altar Guild. She loved to crochet, sew and quilt – having made hundreds of quilts to be donated to Lutheran World Relief. She loved gardening, especially her flowers and tried to acquire a new rose, iris, or lily each year to grow in her flower bed. She loved to read, especially poetry. Her favorite poem was “Crossing the Bar” by Alfred Tennyson.

Grateful for having shared her life are her nine children: Dorothy (Roger) Fryett of Hutchinson, KS, Diane (Douglas) Dangel of Redfield, SD, Thomas (Karen) Goetz of New Ulm, MN, Marijane (David) Borresen of Tyler, MN, Elizabeth (Richard) Wadhams of Bellevue, NE, Mark (Linda) Goetz of Egan, SD, Kathryn (Larry) Bermel of Selby, Robert (Shelly) Goetz Jr. of Sioux Falls, SD, and Charlene (Jeffrey) Pinkava of Arlington, SD; 16 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her mother Lydia on May 7, 1939, her son Dennis Robert on October 17, 1947, her father Fred on July 21, 1974, her husband, Robert on October 29, 1986, her brothers Mike Ritter and Eugene Ritter and her sister Adeline Blondoff.

Funeral services will be Thursday, August 29, 2024, at 10:30 am at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Java with Vicar Brian Nies leading the service. Pianist will be Carol Fiedler and the congregation will sing “Beautiful Savior”, “In the Garden”, and “I Know That My Redeemer Lives”; usher will be Dan Biel; and the eulogist will be granddaughter, Rachel Montileaux.

Casket bearers will be grandsons – Rob Goetz of Orange City, IA and Michael Goetz of Independence, MN; Carlyle Bieber (a former student of Viola’s), Dwight Helm and Steve Biel of Java; and Marty Raba of Selby.

 

Honorary bearers will be Viola’s grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Visitation begins at 6:00 pm Wednesday, August 28th at St. Paul Lutheran Church, with a 7:00 pm prayer service.

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