Violet Balk

Violet (Schafer) Balk was born to Herman and Elsie (Bittner) Schafer in Altura, Minnesota on September 22, 1924 and died on May 20, 2017 after fighting Alzheimer's for some time. She married Elroy Balk (September 6, 1922 to June 27, 1994) on June 10, 1943, where upon, she lived with her Mother and Father in Law (Fred and Clara Balk) and Sister in Law Violet (Balk) Herold until the end of WWII when Elroy returned home and they began their life as farmers in the St. Charles area on different properties. They were milking cows on Mother's Day in 1953 when a tornado hit the Virgil Whent property and basically stopped their farming endeavors. They moved to Winona, Minnesota in 1955 and enrolled their son – Larry (April 4, 1947) who married Sharon (Morey) Balk on August 26, 1966 – in W-K school. They lived at what has become known as "Big Valley Ranch" for about 10 years and had a big garden and 'canned' a lot of vegetables.

Violet worked for Stott's Glove factory until the company went out of business and then Violet went to work at Brock's Candy Co. and retired there in 1986. Through the years she enjoyed baking, cooking, decorating cakes, and serving others. Her strawberry-rhubarb pies are missed already.

Violet enjoyed her hard working life with Elroy. Violet and Elroy attended Calvary Bible Church and then Pleasant Valley E. Free, served in several capacities, until Violet moved to Kansas City to be closer to Larry and his family.

Violet and Elroy took a few road trips around the United States and enjoyed Elroy's short retirement together.

Violet is survived by Larry and Sharon and daughters Amy in Canyon Lake, CA. and Rebecca and Children-Jaden, Triniti, Liam, and Jenna- in Olathe, KS., brother Marvin Schafer in Saint Charles area, Violet Herold (born Sept.27, 1917) and several nieces and nephews-(family names of Herold, Andring, Schafer, Loppnow, Kampa), mostly in Winona County. She is proceeded in death by husband Elroy (1994), his parents- Fred and Clara Balk, her parents-Herman and Elsie Schafer, a Granddaughter- Jennifer, and siblings – Evelyn Andring (January 1, 2003), Beatrice McDougall (April 30, 1985), Roy Schafer (February 28, 2008), Beulah Kampa (February 23, 2006), Orrin Schafer (July 7, 2010), Inez Loppnow (July 7, 2011), and several in laws.

A short friends and family service will be held at Penwell-Gable Funeral home in Olathe, Kansas on May 25, 2017, with Chaplin James Morgan officiating. And a family and friends graveside service will be held on May 27, 2017 at the Hillside Cemetery in St. Charles, MN. With Al Jarvinen officiating. Then a family and friends lunch will follow at the Hoff Funeral Home.

Honorary Pall-bearers are: Lee Herold, Don Andring, Judi Andring, Karin Peterson, Patrick Jacolenne, and Jaden Bracey.