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Violet Lucile “Vi” Johnson, 91, of Glasgow, Montana, formerly of Fort Peck, Montana, passed away peacefully at Valley View Home on June 22, 2025 surrounded by her family.
Vi was born August 26, 1933 to George and Lena Akkerman in Salem, South Dakota. In 1949, she married Wallace “Wally” Johnson. In 1954, they would move their young family to Fort Peck, Montana where they would settle and raise their four children. Vi made many friendships in Fort Peck Community that would last decades as they often enjoyed the same crafts and talents: sewing, quilting, knitting, crocheting, painting, bird watching, Bridge, BINGO and gardening. She would plant vegetable gardens and can the produce for the winter months but her treasured gardens were her flower gardens. Vi sewed most of her and her daughter’s clothes and enjoyed knitting sweaters for everyone. She was multitalented she even taught herself to play the piano. She enjoyed going to Ken’s high school basketball games.
As the kids grew up, she started work in Glasgow, first at the flower shop, then the quilt shop and then she started part-time at the Post Office in Fort Peck. Along with working her flowers and sewing kept her busy and with her talents she received several ribbons at the County Fair.
Later she enjoyed socializing with friends while playing BINGO on a regular basis, she was active in the Senior Citizens of Fort Peck, bird watching and going to the grandkids volleyball and basketball games but her favorite was the Quilt Club, where she learned multiple techniques that kept her busy for decades. With the skills she honed there she made several quilts and wall hangings for all the kids, grandkids and great-grandkids as they came along.
Vi and Wally were blessed with many grandchildren, great-grandchildren and many extended and blended families. Throughout her life she had many pets: dogs, birds, fish and cats but most beloved was her kittens. Even in Valley View, Jax, the home’s cat would spend days in her room.
She is survived by her four children: Richard Lee (Penny) Johnson of Cut Bank, Montana, Marjorie Lynn (Jerry) Bollinger of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Jean Marie Pippin (Terry Kinley) of Maple Valley, Washington and Kenneth Ray (Robin) Johnson of Fort Peck, Montana; brother, Marvin (Lois) Akkerman of Mankato, Minnesota; 12 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
She is preceded in death by a grandson, Jeffrey Allan Pippin in 1996; son-in-law, Mark Lester Pippin in 2003; great-granddaughter, Madison Faith Chatten in 2005; her husband of 61 years, Wally in October of 2010; grandson, Aaron Danne Chatten in 2010 and granddaughter-in-law, Heather Bollinger in 2017.
Family will receive friends 5-7:00 p.m., Sunday, June 29, 2025 at Bell Mortuary in Glasgow, Montana. Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m., Monday, June 30, 2025 at Bell Mortuary with Pastor Bonnie Novak officiating. Burial will follow in Fort Peck Cemetery in Fort Peck, Montana and a reception will follow at the Fort Peck Fish Hatchery. Condolences may be left online for the family at bellmortuarymt.com
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