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Our mother Viola Ruth Schulze passed from this life into the arms of her Savior and Lord Jesus Christ on Sept 29, 2020, with her sons by her side.
Viola was born at home on July 16, 1928, the second child of five siblings of Martin and Frieda (Doening) Radke. She attended Bethlehem Lutheran Church and was baptized and confirmed there.
Viola attended school and graduated with the class of 1946 at Chelsea, Oklahoma High School.
Viola met and then married Milton C Schulze at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in 1948. They made their first home in a one room house near Chelsea, Oklahoma where Dad worked on a hereford cattle ranch. They did not have running water or electricity. While there, Viola had her first two sons. From there, they moved to Miami, Oklahoma were Dad started Veterinary School. Viola worked while dad went to school. Two years there, then moved to Stillwater, Oklahoma where she worked while dad worked and went to school. After dad’s graduation from Oklahoma State University Veterinary School, they moved to Pawnee where they lived and worked for over 50 years.
Viola, our Mom, was a homemaker. She worked part time at Pawnee Lumber and volunteered at the Stillwater Medical Center. She had two more sons during those years. Now raising four boys, she had to adapt to a man’s world and got a lot of kidding from her four sons which she always took with a smile. What a great life knowing Mom was also there when we needed her.
Viola was active in her faith at Zion Lutheran Church, Stillwater, Oklahoma. With a passion she shared that faith with family, friends and anyone who would listen. She taught Sunday School, attended church and Bible studies on a regular basis. She always was willing to listen to her family and friends, children, and grandchildren. Memories of her will always be a source of comfort, acceptance, and encouragement.
After Dad sold his practice in Pawnee, they moved to Montana where dad worked for the USDA as the Veterinary on the United States side of the border. The summers were nice, and the winters were cold. Mom loved to sew and knit on those cold winter nights as well as visit with her children and grandchildren. After Dad retired, they returned to their home in Pawnee. She and dad would spend the summers at their Montana home and return to Pawnee in the winter months.
Mom had a passion for family history. She accumulated information for 50 plus years, going back generations. Mom was a great cook, making Swedish Tea Rings for family and friends at Christmas. She also enjoyed reading, antiquing, painting, gardening, and traveling. While raising the family, mom and dad raised feeder pigs, often getting up at 4:30 in the morning to load out pigs to market. One Christmas dad surprised mom with a new pair of insulated boots and coveralls for those cold mornings.
Viola was married to dad for 70 years before dad died in 2018. What a wonderful and long life she had at age 92. Even though she struggled she continued writing letters and notes to family and friends and always enjoyed a phone call or a visit.
Viola was preceded in death by her husband Milton Sr, two sons Stephen and John, sister Lorna, brother-in-law Martin, and sister-in-law JoAnn.
Viola is survived by two sons, Milton Jr and his wife Cissy, Dennis and his wife Sheryl, sisters Mildred and Naomi, brother Arthur, 10 grand kids, 15 great grand kids, and 1 great great grandson.