Violet "Vi" Emila Lenander Nelson was born September 22, 1926 in Hendricks, MN to parents John and Annie (Anderson) Lenander. She died January 2, 2008 at her residence in Centerville, SD at the age of 81 years, 3 months and 11 days. Vi attended Roosevelt rural school, graduated from Toronto High School and attended Nettleton Business School. She worked as a secretary at Brown Drug Wholesale in Sioux Falls. Vi married Merlin "Bud" Nelson on February 7, 1948 at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, IA. The couple lived in the rural Centerville area, where they farmed. Bud died June 1, 2002 and Vi later moved into Centerville where she has resided until the present time. Vi was baptized and confirmed at Blom Prairie Church in Toronto, SD and later became a member of Scandia Lutheran Church in Centerville where she had served as Stewardship secretary and taught Bible School. She was a Past Matron of Ivy Chapter #25 O.E.S. and was a page at the Grand Chapter O.E.S. of South Dakota. Vi was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, having served as president, was a member for over 50 years of the Friendly Fu Extension Club and belonged to the Red Hat Society. She enjoyed fishing and camping with her family and had traveled much of the country with Bud after their retirement from farming. Vi was preceded in death by her parents, husband, step-mother Josie Sletten Lenander, brothers Harry and Vernon Lenander, a sister Berniece Johnson and husband Vertus; step-sister Agnes, and two sisters and a brother in infancy. Survivors include her two sons: Merle Nelson and wife Barbara of Centerville and Gerald Nelson and wife Janice of Blue Springs, MO; grandchildren: Jeremy Nelson and wife Cate, Shannon Peterson and husband Lee, Shane Nelson and wife Dana, Matthew Nelson and Ted Nelson; great grandchildren: Grace, Gretchen, and Hanna Peterson; and Elizabeth and Doris Nelson; three brothers: Andy Lenander and wife Olga of Watertown, SD, Curtis Lenander and wife Betty of California; a sister Stella Graham from Custer; two step-brothers: Kenneth Sletten and wife Eillen of Tracy, MN and Leslie Sletten and wife Dorothy of Custer, SD; 2 sisters-in-law Donna Lenander and Oriette Lenander and many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.Funeral services will be held at 1:00PM, Monday, January 7, 2008 at Scandia Lutheran Church, Centerville, with burial at Riverview Cemetery. Visitation will be Sunday from 5PM to 8PM with family present from 6PM to 8PM and a prayer service at 7PM at Wass Funeral Home in Centerville.