Violet Jerin

Violet (Vi) Jerin passed away on October 28, 2024 to a better place. She had lived in Davenport, Iowa for 16 years and was a member of Holy Family Church. 

I was the first born child to Louise and Josef Kenda in Klein, Montana, a coal mining community on August 3, 1925. I lived there for the first 18 years of my life. I graduated from Klein High School in 1943. I then moved to Seattle, Washington in 1944 with my best friend Flo Rogerson (World War II was going on) and worked in a defense plant for three years and then went back home to work in the County Clerk and Recorder's office in Roundup.

On January 11, 1947 I married Eddie Jerin. (It was a fast engagement. In fact, it was rumored that we had to get married, but we fooled them). Our first home was in Helena, Montana where Eddie was going to school. After he graduated we moved to Great Falls where he went to work for the Montana Air National Guard.

On May 27, 1948 Michael Joseph was born. We moved to Seattle in 1953 where my second son, Eddie, was born on July 7, 1953. Then we went back to Great Falls where Laurie was born on June 15, 1957. (The doctor called her my "million dollar baby"). In November 1960 John (my Baby) arrived.

In 1968 we moved to Mooresville, Indiana where I lived for 38 years. I worked at Northwood Elementary School for 15 years as a teacher’s aide. I was a member of St. Thomas More Church and a life member of VFW Post 1111 Ladies Auxiliary and was very active at both places. I also volunteered at Miller’s Merry Manor nursing home for 20 years.

I loved to walk. For 20 years my friend Irene Medsker and I were out at 5:00 a.m. walking down Indiana Street come rain or shine. One morning we walked right into the middle of a drug raid–that was pretty scary. I also liked working crossword puzzles, playing cards and other games, bingo and poker machines–my husband Eddie once said that he never saw anyone have as much fun losing money as I did.

Throughout all of my life I loved to dance. I always said "one thing I'd like to do is dance the polka while listening to Lawrence Welk" (I can still shake the old booty). I had a good life…a lot of sadness and fun times. God was good to me.

I lost my husband Eddie in October of 2000. We had been married for 54 years. In September of 2007 pancreatic cancer took my son Eddie from us (he was 54). Then in February 2013, daughter Laurie left us (she was 56). Laurie lived with multiple sclerosis for 20 years, I had a difficult time accepting all of their deaths. I felt like a part of me was missing.

Preceding me in death were my mother Louise, dad Joe and my brothers Glenn (Julie) Kenda in Roundup, Montana and Elvin (Helen) Kenda of Belgrade, Montana.

I'm leaving behind sons Mike (Susan) from Davenport, Iowa and John (Cynthia) from Madison, Wisconsin; daughter-in-law Sharmen in Colorado; grandchildren Kim (Randy) Dahl of (Colorado), Eddie Jerin (Idaho), Hannah Zimorino (California), Nathan Jerin (Wisconsin), Jack Edward “Jed” Dahl (Colorado) and Gianna Jerin (Wisconsin). Also I have many nieces and nephews, cousins and so many close friends including my dear friend Bev Lantz.

A memorial mass will be held at St. Benedict's Church in Roundup, Montana (date forthcoming). A private burial of both Eddie’s (husband) and my ashes will take place at the Roundup Cemetery following the mass.