Viola May Blasdel Keller, lifetime resident of the Flathead Valley, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2014, at Hidden Meadows Memory Care in Columbia Falls. 

She was born to Jesse and Ethel Blasdel on Oct. 3, 1927, at the family homestead, now marked by the picturesque Blasdel barn and the Blasdel Waterfowl Production Area in Lower Valley. She attended Brocken School and graduated from Flathead County High School.

Viola met Charles Keller while working at the Park Inn. On April 23, 1947, Viola boarded a train and then plane to Anchorage, Alaska, where she married Charles on April 29, 1947. Their son, Joe, was born there in 1948. The family soon returned to the Flathead in 1949, and four more children, Mary, Bonnie, Terry and Lonnie were born.

Viola and Charles were involved in their own logging business for more than 60 years, with Viola keeping meticulous hand-written financial records. As a member and president of the Loggerettes, a precursor to Montana Women in Timber, she was among the first to speak publicly about the impacts of wilderness designations on logging. 

Besides raising five children and actively managing their business, Viola was a tireless volunteer in service to her community. In May 1987, she received a plaque from the Flathead County Park board honoring her retirement from the board after 12 years in appreciation for her community service. A “People in the News” article in the May 21, 1987, Daily Inter Lake listed her many accomplishments that included the park board, Eagles Auxiliary, Future Homemakers of America, Northwest Montana fair parade floats, Red Cross blood drawings, Loggerettes Club, Heart Fund Drive, American Cancer Society, Evergreen PTO, Flathead Safety Council and Evergreen roadside cleanup. She also served on election boards. 

Viola was especially active in the Eagles Auxiliary for years, going through all the chairs at the local and state levels, eventually serving as State Auxiliary president. She also served several chairs at the national level with the Grand Auxiliary. For 11 years, Viola and special friend Phyllis Carda were co-editors of the Eagles Aerie 234 newsletter, and Viola was a member of the drill team for 19 years. 

The Northwest Montana Fair was an important part of her life. Each year she entered canning and baked exhibits from her large garden, garnering many ribbons. As a member of the 4-H Council and leader of two 4-H clubs, she helped hundreds of 4-H members prepare their fair projects. Many fair parade floats for 4-H and the Eagles were built in their yard. At the 1967 fair, Viola was named “Lady of the Valley” to honor her service to the community.

Viola and her husband Charles helped shape Evergreen’s landscape, buying, selling and developing land, including East Evergreen Mobile Manor and Storage. They were members of Evergreen Business and Property Owners Association.

Viola and Charles loved dancing, listening to accordion music and going to jam sessions at the Eagles, Sykes and around Apache Junction, Ariz., where they most recently spent winters.

For many years they spent their winters on the island of Hawaii, and their home there was always open to many visitors. Getting together with family and friends at their lake place on Conrad Point was always special. Viola and Charles enjoyed traveling in their motorhome throughout the United States, with Alaska via the Alaska-Canada Highway among their favorites. They also enjoyed cruising.

Viola was preceded in death by her husband Charles, her parents Jesse and Ethel Blasdel, and her sister Eva Belle Mower. 

She is survived by her sisters, Marie Cuzick and Ruby Powell; brothers, Don Blasdel and Ed Blasdel; sons, Joe Keller and Sheila, Lonnie Keller and Debbie, and Terry Keller, all of Kalispell; her daughters, Mary Cabbage and Frank, and Bonnie Schuman and Laurie, of Kalispell; grandchildren, Chuck Keller, Angie Olsen and Russell, Tony Keller and Sarah, Sgt. Joshua Keller and Amy, Dustin Sturgis and Jessica, Lynette Ovnicek and Chad, Lisa Keller, Leslie Keller, Brian Lockhart and Kaija, Kevin Lockhart, Robin Grainger and Kurt, Kristin Burns and Randy, Kimberly Huhn and Jeffrey, Michael Schuman and Jesi, and Jeffrey Schuman and Maren; 34 great-grandchildren; two great-great grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.  

The family would like to express their sincere gratitude to friend Jo Anne Johnson who gave Mom such special care. We would like to give special thanks to the staff of Hidden Meadows Memory Care for their compassionate and loving care for Mom.    

Funeral services for Viola will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, Aug. 11, at Bethel Baptist Church, 936 4th Avenue West, with burial in Glacier Memorial Gardens Cemetery. A viewing will begin prior to the service, at 9 a.m. at the church.

 Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home is caring for Viola’s family. You are invited to go to www.jgfuneralhome.com to view Viola’s tribute wall, offer condolences and share memories.