Viola W. Odefey was born March 1, 1903, to Cornelius and Lena (Carsten) Odefey on a farm near Ida Grove, Iowa.  At the age of five, she moved with her parents to a farm eight miles west of Platte, South Dakota.

She grew up there and received her education in the Platte area and then graduted from Normal School in Mitchell.  As a young lady she taught rural school in the Platte area for two years.

Viola was united in marriage to Burton Fees on June 4, 1924, at Platte.

They farmed and ranched in the Fairview area until 1940 when they purchased the ranch west of Kadoka.  In 1951 they moved into Kadoka and later sold their ranch to their son, Clifford.  While in Kadoka she worked for the Shamrock Motel for 13 years and then helped her husband with custodial duties at the Jackson County Courthouse until retiring in 1978.

Her husband preceded her in death on May 14, 1991.

Viola attended the Presbyterian Church of Kadoka and was a member of the Fairview Ladies Club for many years.

Grateful for having shared her life are her son, Clifford Fees and his wife, Ann, of Philip; one daughter, Arlene Mortensen Ennis and her husband, Edgar, of Sturgis; 10 grandchildren: Linda Ross, Dale Mortensen, Cheryl Wierenga, Jerry Mortensen, Sharon Hinsz, Veryl Fees, Donald Fees, Kelly Fees, Howard Fees, and Sheri Hollway; 27 great-grandchildren; one great-great granddaughter; two brothers, Edwin Odefey of Winnemucca, Nevada, and Herbert Odefey of Dubuque, Iowa; one sister, Selma Ninnemann of Platte; and a host of other relatives and friends.

In addition to her husband, Burt, she was preceded in death by her parents; one brother, Dale Odefey; five sisters, Mamie Kimball, Ann Koster, Amanda Gropper, Ruby Wynia, and Ida Gropper.

A memorial is established to the Kadoka Care Center.

Services
Saturday, July 19, 1997
11:00 a.m.
Presbyterian Church
Kadoka, South Dakota

Officiating
Pastor Gary McCubbin
Pastor Veryl Fees

Eulogy
Linda Ross

Music
Carol Solon - Organist
Joyce Wheeler & Lynden Ireland - Vocalists

Ushers
Greg Wierenga - Christ Hinsz

Active Pallbearers (Grandsons)
Howard Fees - Jerry Mortensen
Donald Fees - Dale Mortensen
Kelly Fees - Jerry Ross

Honorary Pallbearers
All relatives and friends in attendance

Interment
Kadoka Cemetery
Kadoka, South Dakota