Funeral services for 95-year old Viola “Vi” Stanec are Sat, May 13, 2023 at 11:00 at Our Redeemer’s Lutheran Church in Martin, SD.
Visitation is Friday, May 12, from 7:00 to 8:00 PM. also at Our Redeemer’s Lutheran Church in Martin
Online condolences may be left at www.chamberlainchapel.com
Viola Adeline “Vi” (Larsen) Stanec was born June 17, 1927, in New Underwood, SD to Alvin & Carrie Larsen. She passed away Monday, May 8, 2023, at the Highland Park Care Center in Alliance, NE.
The first of ten children, Vi attended grade school at Farmingdale, SD, and graduated from Rapid City High School in 1945. During her high school years, she worked for her room & board at several residences. After graduation from high school, she was employed by the Ration & Rent Office.
Vi was united in marriage to Frank Stanec of Martin, SD, on June 17, 1946. Four children were born to this union: Cary Jo, Diana, Maria & Steve. Maria was born 2 months prematurely and passed away 12 hours after her birth.
Their first home was on a farm 9 miles west of Martin where she helped with farm chores, raised large numbers of pullet chickens for butchering, and was a 4-H leader for a number of years.
Vi and Frank sold their farm and moved to Martin in 1967 and started a wheel alignment and brake service business. In 1978, Vi became a childcare provider for many of the children in and around Martin – continuing for more than 30 years and ending shortly before moving to Rapid City in 2009.
Vi was confirmed at Zion Lutheran Church in Rapid City, SD in 1943 and remained an active Lutheran the rest of her life. She was a member of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Martin for many years, teaching Sunday School and playing the organ.
She was also a member of the American Legion Unit Auxiliary #240 for many years. Her hobbies included gardening, both flowers and vegetables, sewing, crocheting & quilt making.
She is survived by daughters Cary (Ron) Sherman of Ashland, MO and Diana (Craig) Kratovil of Rapid City, SD; son Steve of Alliance, NE; granddaughters Tonya Kratovil of Oahu, HI; Crystal (Bill) Moffitt of Rapid City; Wendy (Cliff) Faulkner of Ashland, MO; and Catina Farahani of Salt Lake City, UT; grandsons Scott (Karin) Sherman of Santa Rosa, CA; and Rich (Tara) Stanec of Alliance; 12 great-grandchildren; 3 great-great-grandchildren; brother Les Larsen (Linda) of Bismarck, ND; and sister Nela Napoli of Rapid City.
Vi was preceded in death by her husband Frank; daughter Maria; parents Alvin & Carrie Larsen; brothers Rollo, Walter, Willard, William & Verlyn; and sisters Wilma Winston & DeElda Kursave.
Bennett County Funeral Service of Martin is in charge of arrangements for Vi Stanec.