Viola Ernestine Schmitz, 88, of St. Benedict, KS, died early Thursday morning, January 24, 2008, at Crestview Manor care home in Seneca, where she had been a resident since 2004.

Viola was born on February 15, 1919, the daughter of Frank and Bernadine Hulsing Bergman, on a farm northwest of St. Benedict. She attended Cottonwood School, St. Mary’s School, and helped on the family farm.

On April 23, 1941, she married Silverius N. “Sap” Schmitz at St. Mary’s Church in St. Benedict. The young couple lived on a farm northwest of St. Benedict. In 1948, they bought their family farm, where they resided until 1979 when they moved into St. Benedict. Her husband preceded her in death in 1996.

Viola raised a large garden, and enjoyed sewing, embroidering, and quilting with her sisters. She was a member of St. Mary’s Church and the St. Ann’s Altar Society in St. Benedict.

She will be missed by her five daughters, Kathleen Hylton of Topeka, Diane Schultz of Berryton, Esther Shattuck of White Oak, TX, Marilyn Egan of Riverside, CA and Cecilia Olberding of Seneca; two sons, Jerome Schmitz of Newton and Michael Schmitz of Baileyville; a brother Wilfred Bergman of Seneca; two sisters, Alma Haug of Baileyville and Luella Schmidt of Buhl, ID; 22 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.

Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by three grandsons, Jerrod Schmitz, Justin Olberding, and a stillborn baby boy; three brothers, Ray, Alfred, and Arthur Bergman and two sisters, Florena Schmitz and Mary Ann Schmitz.

Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 10 AM on Saturday, January 26, at St. Mary’s Church in St. Benedict. She will be laid to rest next to her husband in the church cemetery. Rosaries will be prayed at 2 & 7 PM Friday at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca.

Memorials may be given in Viola’s memory for Nemaha Valley Community Hospital or St. Mary’s Church, and sent in care of the family.