Violet Bushman

Violet (Bakke) Bushman 86, of Sioux Falls, died Tuesday, March 20 at the Good Samaritan Village. Funeral Services will be held 11:00 a.m. Saturday March 24 at Leganger Lutheran Church, Toronto, SD. Visitation will be from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. Friday in Baltic at the Minnehaha Funeral Home.

Violet Virginia (Bakke) Bushman was born October 14, 1925 at Astoria, SD to Elmer & Clara Bakke. She grew up on a farm in the Astoria area until age 10 when the family moved to the Puposky, MN area in 1936. Violet had fond memories of the experiences and people she knew during the 6 years spent in Northern Minnesota. Violet visited the area several times with family members and reminisced about her life there. The family returned to Astoria in 1942 and Violet graduated from Astoria High School in 1944. She attended Augustana College in Sioux Falls and SDSU in Brookings. Violet worked for the Costello Co. in Sioux Falls for 5 years and taught school for 3 years prior to her marriage to Merle Wayne Bushman of Lake Benton, Minnesota on Dec 18, 1954 in Astoria. Their married life was blessed by 2 daughters, Mona and Karen, and 57 years together. They spent their life in various locations but came to call Sioux Falls home where Violet worked for various employers in the capacity of bookkeeper, a profession she enjoyed and excelled at. In 1984 Violet and Merle moved to Astoria so she could be near and provide assistance to her parents. They later made their home near Baltic, SD until she entered the Good Samaritan Village in Sioux Falls in 2007.

Violet enjoyed various church activities and bible study, organizing family gatherings, and was a member of the American Legion Post 103 Auxiliary. She excelled as a grandmother, watching over and making Matthew the best waffles ever.

Violet is survived by her husband Merle of Lennox, SD, daughters Mona (Pete) Norris of Rawlins, WY, Karen (John) Mossefin of Lennox, SD, grandson Matthew (fiancée Brittney Danner) Norris of Rawlins, WY, and great-granddaughter Makenzey Norris of Rawlins, WY. Surviving siblings are brothers Elwood (Delphine) Bakke of Hendricks, MN and Clayton (Marion) Bakke of Des Moines, IA.

Violet was preceded in death by her parents and sister Bernice Grande.