Viola Hedvall

Viola Hill Hedvall passed away peacefully at the age of 102 on September 15 at Oakview Assisted Living in Moose Lake, MN.

Viola was born January 1, 1915 to Charles J and Maria (Mattson) Hill, a pioneer boat building family in Larsmont, MN and grew up in a family of 12 children. Viola attended the one-room school house there and later Two Harbors High School.  After leaving Larsmont, Viola lived in Duluth  for many years, working for the Hartman Bakery, Northwestern Bell Telephone Co., and Western Electric.  During World War II she served with the Women’s Air Force at Lemoore Air Field, CA.  She married Niels H. Hedvall in 1950 in Duluth.  She and her husband owned and operated the former Alexandria Hotel and other rental properties for many years before moving to Incline Village, NV where they owned a property management company.  After his death in 1990, she returned to Duluth where she was a member of the former Ebenezer Baptist Church and Lincoln Park Community Church, its Young in Heart Senior Group and Women’s Circle.  She was associated with the Stonecroft Ministries (Christian Women’s Clubs) for many years and a member of AARP, Senior Coalition, RSVP and Greysolon Plaza Social Club.  Viola enjoyed gardening and a number of crafts, including crewel embroidery, draped figurines and creating table centerpieces and favors for her clubs.  She also enjoyed baking, especially her favorite Butter Pecan Cookies, sharing them and the recipe with relatives and friends.  She and her husband Niels enjoyed the companionship and antics of their English bulldogs, Barry and Bruno.

Preceding her in death were her husband, a stillborn son, her father, mother, brothers William, Birger, Helmer, Reuben and Roland, sisters Emma Oberg, Inez Bailey, Alice Gustafson, Vera Isackson, Verna Odberg, and Ida Hill, twelve nephews, four nieces, two grandnieces and one grandnephew.

Surviving her are many loving nephews and nieces, their families and many treasured friends.  She will be especially missed by her niece, Susan Kreager and husband Russ of Moose Lake, MN who have looked out for all of Viola’s needs in the last several years.  The family wishes to thank the staff of Oakview Assisted Living as well as St. Croix Hospice for the loving care Vi received.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, September 23 at 11:00am at First Baptist Church in Two Harbors, MN.  Military honors will be performed at the graveside.  In lieu of flowers, memorials to Stonecroft Ministries  (10561 Barkley, Suite 500, Overland Park, KS 66212) would be preferred.