Funeral services for Violet Madsen, 76, Savage, were at 2 p.m., Tuesday, June 30, 2009, at the First Lutheran Church in Savage with Pastor Nell Lindorff officiating.

Musical selections were provided by Josh Paul and Linda Bergstedt. Casketbearers were Eric Madsen, Steve Ler, Don Mastvelten, Dustin Haralson, Les Stern and John Hoon Jr. Honorary casketbearers were all of Violet’s many friends and relatives. Ushers were Frank Reed and Tony Wiltfong.

Interment took place in the Riverview Cemetery, Savage, under the direction of the Fulkerson Funeral Home of Sidney. Remembrances and condolences may be shared with the family at www.fulkersons.com. She was born on Jan. 5, 1933, in Plevna, to Christian and Pauline (Vogele) Krausz. She lived and went to school in Ismay and Plevna. When she was in the eighth grade, her family moved to Glendive, where she went to school until the 10th grade. She worked in Glendive as a waitress and cleaned rooms at several businesses.

On July 15, 1951, she was united in marriage to Elver Madsen in Glendive. They lived in several cities in eastern Montana – Sidney, Miles City, Glendive and Havre. She was also involved in the building of the first drive-in theater in Plentywood.

In 1956 they had their first child, Carla, when Elver was stationed in Fort Gordon, Ga. Jeff came along in 1958 when they had returned from the service to Sidney. By the time Bruce was born in 1960 they had made their permanent home in Savage.

She worked at Holly Sugar for five years, cleaned motel rooms, painted houses with her sister-in-law, and helped run the Madsen Hardware Store in Savage.

In 2000, she moved to Helena for a short time where Elver had been employed by the state of Montana and helped him conduct his electrical training courses. They moved back to Savage in 2002 where she lived until April of this year. She went to live with her daughter in Rhame, N.D.

Violet died on Wednesday, June 24, 2009, at the Southwest Healthcare Hospital in Bowman, N.D.

She enjoyed her family, gardening and making pies for special people. She was involved with several organizations: 4-H, Homemakers and the Savage Cemetery Board. She was a member of the First Lutheran Church of Savage.

Survivors include: her two children, Carla (Andy) Adkisson, Rhame, N.D., and Jeff (Christi) Madsen, Savage; her sister Marlene (Everett) Kassner, Glendive; special sister-in-law Vera (Mugs) Ler, Savage; her brother-in-law Wesley (Anna Bell) Madsen, Baker; her sister-in-law Verna (Larry) Bliesmer, Dunnel, Minn; seven grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren with another one on the way; and a self adopted grandson Tony Wiltfong, Savage.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Elver, in 2002; her son Bruce in 1993; her parents; two sisters Irene Burleson and Edna Lindbo; two brothers-in-law Melvin Ler and Percy Kassner.