VIOLET BELKHOLM

Violet Arlene Augusta (Ekberg) Belkholm passed away peacefully on Friday, August 8, 2025, at GracePointe Crossing in Cambridge, Minnesota. She was 91 years old.

Violet was born to Manfred and Ellen (Blomquist) Ekberg on March 20, 1934, the 8th of 9 children. Violet lived with her family on a farm in Estes Brook, Minnesota. Violet attended country school District 7 in Estes Brook through 8th grade. She attended Milaca High School, graduating in 1952. She worked as a switchboard operator for Northwestern Bell in Milaca for 3 years and then attended Trinity College in Chicago from 1955-1957.

She married Chester Belkholm August 24, 1957, at the Estes Brook Free Church. She farmed with her husband until they retired and their son and daughter-in-law, Kevin and Tammy took over the farm. She continued to be a part of the farm operation as long as she was able. Chester and Violet had 3 children: Connie, Kevin and Carol.

Violet was active at Braham Covenant Church where she was a member all her adult life. She served as organist, pianist, choir director, children's ministry teacher and Covenant Women member. She has also held several positions on the church board. No job was too big or too small. She gave her time and resources and considered it a joy to be able to serve her Lord in any way she could. Her desire was to be a faithful witness of God's grace in her life. Violet experienced a close relationship with her Lord as He walked with her through both the good and the bad times.

Quilting was one of Violet's joys during her retirement years. She attended Quilters retreats at Lake Beauty Covenant Camp always coming back with fun quilting stories and new ideas. She decorated her home and church with seasonal quilted table decorations and wall hangings. She challenged herself to try new patterns and styles of quilting and talked often about her many quilting friends. Violet made quilts for family members and entered one quilt in competition at the Kanabec County fair winning Grand Champion.

At graduations, weddings and important family and church events Violet often supplied amazing amounts of cookies, dessert bars, and breads with a quality that was consistent and amazingly predictable. Banana bread was generously offered as thanks and appreciation for assistance given to Violet, especially in later years when she needed help with tasks around her home. For Christmas gifts, family members were given the option to choose from: french bread, banana bread, Christmas breads, cookies or a little of each for their Christmas gift.

Violet was involved in her local community. She hosted skiers for the Vasaloppet ski race, volunteered at Mora Public Schools, was a voting judge with elections and a local fire warden. She was a 4H leader and gave her time, talents and food generously at numerous community events.

Violet was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Chester, daughter-in-law Tammy Belkholm, siblings and their spouses, Florence (Paul Manly) Swanson, Gladys (Ernie) Brink, Leroy (Irene) Ekberg, Raymond (Elaine) Ekberg, Alvin "Bud" Johnson, Reuben (Donna) Ekberg, Glen (Ruth) Ekberg, Roy (Vivian) Belkholm, several nephews and a niece.

She is survived by her children, Connie (Doug) Smith, Kevin (Laurie) Belkholm, and Carol (Steve) Thompson; grandchildren, Erica (Kenny Blake) Belkholm, Mike (Chelsie) Belkholm, Ross Belkholm, BreAnna Belkholm, Tyler (Rosalyn) Smith, Graham Smith, Ellen Thompson, Autumn Thompson, Ethan Thompson; great-grandchildren, Coraline Blake, Soren, Raleigh, and Rorik Smith, Marlow and Mila Belkholm; sisters, Elsie Johnson and Mildred (Darryl) Carlson; sister-in-law Dorothy Ekberg; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of friends.

Memorial Service will be held at 3:00 pm on Friday, August 29, 2025 at the Braham Covenant Church.

Memorial Visitation will be held 2 hour prior to the service, from 1:00-3:00 pm on Friday at the church.

A luncheon will immediately follow the service.

A private family inurnment will be in the Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery in Brunswick.

Memorials are preferred to the Braham Covenant Church or Camp Beauty Bible Camp.