Violet Harriet (Juntunen) Webster, 89

Violet Harriet (Juntunen) Webster, 89, passed away Monday, May 30, 2005, at Heritage Place in Kalispell.

Violet was born May 27, 1916, in Burlington, N.D., to Marion and Maude Lung. She had two sisters and two brothers, Dora, Faye, Charlie and Alfred; they all have preceded her in death.

When Violet was 2 years old, she moved with her family to Brimson, Minn.

She attended a small school in Brimson.

Violet told many fond stories about growing up in Brimson, how quiet and peaceful it was living there, about swimming in Indian Lake and the Cloquet River, picking blueberries and raspberries during the summer, bundling up in the winter and shoveling snow with her dad, and taking hay rides with her family and friends.

Violet married Art Juntunen Sr.; they were married for 24 years and raised three children.

She is survived her children, Judith Dora Godfrey, of Pahrump, Nev., Art Juntunen Jr., and his wife, Arline, of Kalispell, and Charles Juntunen, and his wife, Mary, of Kalispell.

When her sons moved to Montana, she used to love driving to see them and their families. Many trips were made by car and later in her motor home. She never worried about making the trip alone, even in the dead of winter, so she could spend the Christmas holidays with her family.

She loved hunting, fishing and camping. She was an excellent hunter and a dead shot with her "cut down to fit 30-30." Art Sr. always said, "The deer worry when Vi was hunting; she always hit what she aimed at."

Both of her sons drove log trucks, or wood-chip trucks, and she never would miss an opportunity to ride along when she could.

On one particular trip to the mountains for a load of logs, on a steeper-than-usual stretch of woods road, the woods crew asked her son, "Isn't she going to be scared going down this steep mountain?" Her son's reply was "No, who do you think taught me to drive?"

Violet made many friends during the years, and one of the longest-lasting friendships was with Jenny Laine of Brimson. They stayed in contact for many years, even when Violet moved to Montana.

She will be missed by her family and friends.

"To you, Ma, we all say 'Via con Dios.'"

Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, June 25, at Buffalo Hill Funeral Home, with the Rev. John Weaver officiating.

Buffalo Hill Funeral Home is caring for the family.