Viva "Vi" G. DeBolt, age 99, of Huron, died Wednesday, October 12, 2016, at SunQuest Healthcare Center. Her funeral service was held at 10:30 AM, Tuesday, October 18th at the Congregational United Church of Christ. Burial was in the Riverside Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to the Congregational United Church of Christ.
Viva "Vi" Geraldine Lawrence DeBolt, 99, was born in Pretty Rock, South Dakota, February 20, 1917, to Douglas and Alfreda (Sandstorm) Lawrence on her grandparents' homestead. Lena Sandstorm was a midwife and delivered Vi into the world. Vi moved to Lemmon, South Dakota, with her mother and father and lived there until she was three. She lived with her beloved grandparents from age of three until she attended school. Her grandparents immigrated from Sweden to America and Swedish was the language spoken in the household. Once in school, Vi learned English quickly. Eventually, Vi moved to Aberdeen, South Dakota with her mother and younger sister, Dorothy.
Vi graduated from Aberdeen Central High in 1936. After graduation, Vi took a position with the Aberdeen daily newspaper as she loved journalism. Shortly, thereafter Vi met a young, tall, dark and handsome gentleman, C.E. "Bud" DeBolt, who worked in produce at the Piggly Wiggly grocery store. Vi and Bud were married on May 8, 1937. They had one son, Donald James and two daughters, Carol Jean and Kay Arlene. The family moved to Huron, South Dakota in 1947, when Bud was transferred from the Aberdeen Sash and Door to preside as President and Manager of the Huron Sash and Door where he remained for 45 years, until his retirement in in 1992.
Vi was a homemaker, a volunteer with Huron Hospital Pink Ladies, active in the Congregational United Church of Christ, worked at the Cat's Meow Dress Shop located in the Marvin Hughitt Hotel, and was a licensed realtor with Pugsley Realty. She was also a 60+ year member of Mizpah Chapter #9 Order of the Eastern Star, a member of P.E.O. Chapter F for 58 years, and a member of a bridge club, Toastmistresses, Jaycee-ettes and Huron Garden Club. On October 18th, it would have been ten years since Vi had become a resident of SunQuest Healthcare Center.
Those waiting for her in Heaven are her beloved husband of 67 years, "Bud", her sister, Dorothy LaFleur and her daughter-in-law, Janet Rae DeBolt.
Left to cherish her memory are: her son, Donald James DeBolt of Alexandria, Virginia; two daughters, Carol Jean (Gary) Slate of Richmond, Virginia and Kay (Ron) Gogolin of Huron, South Dakota; six grandchildren, Jim (Lisa) DeBolt, Jeff DeBolt, Tad (Mandy) Gogolin, Marny (Matt) Kester, Nicole (Jeff) Ukrop, Sara Gogolin; ten great-grandchildren, Lee Michael DeBolt, Myia DeBolt, Diana DeBolt, Christopher DeBolt, Victoria DeBolt, Slate Wells, Riggs Ukrop, Brown Ukrop, Lincoln Gogolin, Tessa Gogolin; and one great great-grandchild, Landon DeBolt.