Violet DeRung

Violet Irene Lawson, daughter of Victor and Laura (Brown) Lawson, was born April 13, 1917 in Bluffton , Minnesota . Her family lived in the Wadena area, where she began her schooling. In 1927, they moved to Stevens County . Violet began attending country school and later went on to attend the West Central School of Agriculture in Morris. On February 15, 1943, she was united in marriage to Lawrence DeRung. To this union six children were born. The couple farmed until 1969, when they moved into Morris. Violet worked at Finger Hut in Morris and Benson, the Morris Dry Cleaners and was a cook at West Central Homes in Morris. She retired in 1985 and continued to live in Morris until 2002, when she moved to Chisago City , Minnesota , where she lived until the time of her death.

Violet was a member of the Morris VFW, the American Legion and the Homemakers Club. She also did volunteer work for the Fairview Lakes Regional Hospital Auxiliary. She enjoyed sewing, where she donated much of her hard work to Sharing and Caring Hands in Minneapolis and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. She also liked to quilt, knit, crochet, gardening, traveling and playing cards. She especially enjoyed the time she spent with her family and friends.

Violet died on Wednesday, March 31, 2010 at St. John’s Hospital in Maplewood , Minnesota , having lived to reach the age of 92 years.

She is survived by four sons: Virgil (Vicki) DeRung of Chisago, Vern (Mary) DeRung of Richfield, Neil DeRung of Ramsey and Dale (Karen) DeRung of Rice; one daughter: Joyce (Jack) Ascheman of Lino Lakes; 14 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; 2 great-great grandchildren; one brother: Royal Lawson of Hoffman and two sisters-in-law: Ida Lawson of Morris and Barla Casey of Enid, OK and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband; one son: Merle DeRung; eight brothers: Carl Lawson, Seth Lawson, Floyd Lawson, Lloyd Lawson, Larry Lawson, Russell Lawson, Kenneth Lawson and Glen Lawson and two sisters: Gladys Auel and Vina Lawson.

Pallbearers for the service are all of Violet’s grandchildren. Honorary pallbearers are Violet’s close friends and relatives. Della Conroy will serve as organist for the service with Kelly Ascheman serving as soloist. Pedersen Funeral Home in Morris is in charge of the arrangements.