Viola G.L. "Vi" Aaseng

Aaseng, Viola G.L. "Vi" 86, of Eau Claire, and formerly of St. Louis Park and Northfield, MN, died Friday, August 20, 2010, in Eau Claire, in the loving care of her family and Harbor House memory care staff. Vi was born in St. Paul on March 28, 1924, daughter of Rev. A.B. and Gertrude (Gulack) Anderson. She earned a bachelor's degree in history from Concordia College (Moorhead, MN) in 1946 and was valedictorian of her class. Vi married Pastor Rolf E. Aaseng on March 19, 1948, in St. Paul, and together they raised their five children. She worked for many years as a homemaker, initially in Park Rapids and then in St. Louis Park, where they were active long-time members of Westwood Lutheran Church. In 1969, she earned a degree in library science from Augsburg College and went on to serve as librarian at Golden Valley Lutheran College, and later at Westwood. In 1980, she and Rolf fulfilled a lifelong dream to serve in the Christian mission field. Vi enjoyed the challenge of developing the library at the Lutheran seminary in Umpumulo, South Africa. They returned to St. Louis Park in 1988, and lived there in retirement until moving to Northfield in 2005. Vi enjoyed family gatherings, camping, classical music, football, and entertaining, and was well-known for her culinary creations. She is survived by her children, Lenore of Mpls., Norman (Sharla) of Mpls., Nathan (Linda) of Eau Claire, Grant (Ruth) of Alexandria, and Scott (Gale Holmlund) of Chicago; her 10 grandchildren; her brother, Norman (Mary Lloyd) Anderson of Rockville, MD; and her sister, Charlotte Rasmussen of Northfield; and nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Rolf; and brother, Oscar. A memorial service will be held at Westwood Lutheran Church at 9001 Cedar Lake Road, St. Louis Park, MN, at 10:30 am on Friday, Sept. 24. Visitation will be at the church an hour before the service. Burial will be at Fort Snelling National Cemetery. Memorials may be given to National Church Library Association, 275 South Third St., Suite 204, Stillwater, MN 55082 or the Lutheran seminary library in South Africa, c/o ELCA Global Mission, 8765 W. Higgins Rd., Chicago, IL 60631. To express condolences online, please visit obituaries at www. lenmarkfh.com