Viola Louise Nollett was born on June 13, 1934 to Peter N. and Rosetta (Robertson) Nollett at her parents rural Todd County, SD home where she grew up. As she was the only child, she spent a lot of quality time with her Dad and became his “hired man”, helping with the farming, haying and caring for the cattle, sheep and hogs. She attended grade school at Bull Creek Country School. She graduated from Valentine High School in 1952. The last semester of High School she worked mornings at the Nebraska State Bank and then full time after graduation. Duties were teller, posting machine operator and proof machine operator for two years as that was a new machine in the banking industry.
On November 10, 1954 Viola married Dale Coleman. To this union two children, Jeanie and Gary were born. Sometimes Mom had to use a little tough love on us, but we knew she always loved us.
After the birth of Gary, Viola resigned from the bank and became a full time mom. Once both Jeanie and Gary were in school, she worked at the Valentine Clinic for 25 years and was Office Manager for several years. In 1987 the clinic closed and she was asked to do the insurance for Dr. Deakin, who was the physician for Pine View Care Center. This job shortly entailed doing the Medical Records for the facility and she retired in 1995.
Dale was a rancher and Viola was very involved with helping Dale on the ranch on weekends. During calving season she did the night checking four nights a week so Dale could keep up with the day work. She was grateful for her understanding bosses so that a schedule was worked out. She loved the ranch life and the cattle were her pride and joy of ranching.
She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary Post #90, Cherry County Peace Officer’s Auxiliary, Cherry County Hospital Auxiliary and the Cherry County Historical Society Museum. She volunteered at Cherry Hills Assisted Living, Centennial Hall, Cherry County Historical Museum and Cherry County Hospital for Specialty Clinics.
Viola and Dale followed the sports and other school activities of their grandchildren over the years, seldom missing an event. They were named Badger Booster Fans of the year in 2012.
Viola and Dale enjoyed several trips including Hawaii for their 25th anniversary, an Alaskan tour for their 50th anniversary, the International Hereford Tour, a tour of the Grand Canyon and a trip to Puerto Rico.
Family was important to Viola and she loved nothing better than to have everyone home for the holidays so that she could make pumpkin pies, dinner rolls and cinnamon rolls. Some would rather have another dinner roll than dessert. She was extremely proud of the success of her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren and their families.
She passed away May 17, 2023 at Cherry County Hospital.
She leaves to mourn her passing her two children: daughter, Jeanie (Joe) Miller of Scottsbluff, and son, Gary (Deb) Coleman of Valentine; grandchildren and great grandchildren, Kari (Tim) Gaswick, Kaylee (Taylor) Summers, Aaron, Braxton and Seth of Chadron, Chad (Danielle) Coleman, Charlotte, Cormac and Chloe of Valentine, Katherine Riegler, Cash and Jack of Rock Springs, WY, Gregory (Emily) Coleman, Leland and Sawyer of Omaha, William Martindale and daughter Karson of Torrington, WY, Mathew Coleman of North Platte, NE. Margaret (Rick) Comer of Phoenix, AZ; great great grandchild, Daxton Summers; several nephews and nieces, special niece, Karen O’Dell of Valentine; and special nephew, Scott Bates of Alliance.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Dale; her parents, Pete and Rose, Sister-in-law, Louise (Glen) Downing; sister-in-law, Bernice (George) Bates and nephew Karl Downing.
Funeral service for Viola Coleman was held Tuesday, May 23, 2023 at 10:30 a.m. at the Valentine Methodist Church with interment at Mt. Hope Cemetery, Valentine. Memorials may be made to the Cherry Co. Hospital Auxiliary or to the Cherry Co. Historical Society. Sandoz Chapel of the Pines was in charge of arrangements. More obits on page 11
