Inez Marjorie Viste

Inez M. Viste, age 92, of Decorah, IA, died Tuesday, April 27, 2010 at Wellington Place in Decorah where she had been a resident since October 29, 2001. Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Saturday, May 1, 2010, at Washington Prairie Lutheran Church in rural Decorah, Iowa, by Rev. Mark Kvale, with burial in the church cemetery. Visitation begins at 10:00 A.M. Saturday, one hour before services, at the church. Inez Marjorie (Peterson) Viste was born on January 17, 1918, the daughter of Even and Ida (Borseth) Peterson on the family farm in Madison Township, Winneshiek County, Iowa. She was baptized and confirmed at Madison Lutheran Church. Inez attended country school. After school Inez starting working at a restaurant in Decorah, after which she worked at Wapsie Produce and then she went to Waukegan, IL to work for a drug manufacturing company for several years. Inez was united in marriage to Howard John Viste on January 30, 1943 at Washington Prairie Lutheran Church in rural Decorah, IA. This union was blessed with two children: James and Joan. Inez and Howard took over and farmed his family’s farm in Frankville Township for many years. In 1996 they sold the farm and retired, and then moved into Decorah. They were members of Washington Prairie Lutheran Church, where Inez taught Sunday school for many years, was active in Circle, and she made many wedding cakes, confirmation cakes and Nordic Fest dinners for a variety of church activities. She loved to bake. Inez was a 4-H leader and a member of TOPS for many years. She loved to sew and made most of Joan’s childhood clothing. She also had a vegetable garden on the farm and canned many foods. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Howard, on May 24, 2001; her son, James, on December 29, 1999; one grandson, Nathan Halverson, on January 12, 1993; four sisters: Lillian Borseth, Ruth Amundson, Esther Stegen and Arlene Clasen; and two brothers: Alvin Peterson and Ove Peterson. Inez is survived by her daughter, Joan (Terry) Stone of Decorah; one daughter-in-law, Susan Viste of Decorah; two grandchildren: Statia (Dan) Thomas of Ames, IA, and Joey Viste of Decorah; one great-grandson, Liam Thomas; three step granddaughters: Kris (Tom) Weber of Cedar Falls, IA, Tracey (Greg) Wilhelm of West Salem, WI, and Tammy (Mark) Vehrenkamp of West Salem, WI; six step great-grandchildren: Matt and Sarah Weber, Spencer Wilhelm, Erica, Emily and Evan Vehrenkamp; and by one brother-in-law, Bob Clasen of New Hampton, IA.