Violet E. Coleman

1935 - 2021

Violet E. Coleman

December 30, 1935 - October 19, 2021

Violet E. Coleman passed away Tuesday afternoon October 19, 2021 due to complications of COVID-19 at St. Peters Hospital, Helena, MT just two weeks after the death of her beloved husband of 68 years, Robert M. Coleman. She was also preceded in death by her parents and two older brothers, U.S. "Jack" Brannen, Daniel Vernon Brannen.

Violet "Vi" Emilia Brannen was born the youngest of three children on December 30, 1935 to Lucy A. and Ulysses Sen Brannen in Petaluma, California. Violet's mother Lucy, died of tuberculosis at the very young age of 28 leaving Violet and her two older brothers orphaned. From the tender age of two, Violet was raised in the warm, loving foster home of Theron and Geraldine (Coglin) Kresky. She was educated at St. Vincent's Catholic schools in Petaluma and became a very devout Catholic passing on the love of her faith to her daughters and many grandchildren. Theron and Geraldine nicknamed Violet "Tootsie" while she lived with them. She was called Tootsie or "Toots" from then until she left their home at the age of 15 in search of her father.

Vi found her father, U.S. Brannen remarried and living in Conrad, MT. She lived with her father and new stepfamily for a short time while waitressing and eventually working as a telephone operator. It was at this time she met her future husband, Robert M. Coleman, on a blind date.

Bob and Vi were married on December 6, 1953 in Fort Benton, MT. Vi was a loving wife and "the BEST MOM ever", staying home to raise their four young daughters. She was a fun-loving person. She loved music, she loved to dance, she enjoyed bowling and she loved being around people. She knew no strangers. She was a woman who wore many "different hats" as her girls got older. She had a love of jewelry so became a jewelry store clerk spending most of her earnings on jewelry. She taught herself to crochet and to sew while at home watching their four little babies and became a talented seamstress. She worked as a clerk in a grocery store and in a fabric store. She helped her husband operate several successful businesses.

In retirement, she became a part-time bank employee, and later did food demos at Costco. She took great pleasure being involved in all the goings-on at the senior citizens center. She enjoyed going out to eat and was especially fond of attending the "Birthday Dinners" her friend Birgit put on each month. She was a money counter at St. Helena Cathedral for several years. She traveled with the bank ETC group on many fun vacations. Vi let no grass grow beneath her feet. She loved life and lived it to the fullest. Each day with her was a precious GIFT.

She is survived by her four loving daughters; Cristy (Mark) Cooper, Willow Creek, MT; Nancy J. Coleman, Willow Creek, MT; Ramona (Shelby) Rogers; Gt. Falls, MT; Valerie (Stanley) Guedesse, Belt, MT; eight grandchildren: Tracy, Tenille, Ryan, Kelsy, Shelynne, Katie, Brannen and Natalie: thirteen great grandchildren: Jazmyn, Sadie, Jaydon, Grace, "Tad", Landon, Taaliyah, Emma, Izabella, Molly, Easton, Jaks, and Rue; half-sister, Patricia Manning, Stanwood, WA; brother-in-law LaVerle F. (Helen) Coleman; Richland,WA. Numerous nieces and nephews.

Vi will be dearly missed by many! Cremation has taken place under the direction of Simple Cremations, Helena, MT. A funeral mass will be said in her honor with interment at a later date.