Erskine – Violet Pazdernik, age 67, of Erskine, died Sunday,  April 27 at Pioneer Memorial Care Center in Erskine, following a courageous battle with cancer.    
  Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday, May 1 at Grace Lutheran Church in Erskine, with the Rev. Timothy Lundeen officiating. Interment will be held at Sorum Cemetery, rural Erskine. Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m., with a 7 p.m. prayer service on Wednesday, April 30 at the Carlin-Hoialmen Funeral Home in Erskine.
    There will also be reviewal for one hour prior to the service on Thursday at the church. Arrangements are with the Carlin-Hoialmen Funeral Home of Erskine and sympathy messages may be sent at www.carlinhoialmen.com.
    Violet was born Violet Leona Amberson at her parents’ home near Mentor on March 20, 1941, to proud parents Peder and Palma (Kind) Amberson.
    Although she moved several times throughout her growing years, her main area remained in the Mentor area. She mentioned highly and spoke often of her good friends Diane, Vivian, “Smack”, and so on. She later enjoyed working as a babysitter and also at the local restaurant in Mentor in her teen years.
    She very much enjoyed listening to her mother play the piano while her father played on the violin, and often her brother, Arnold, would join in.  She loved to visit with her brothers, sister, nieces and nephew … and did so often … most times claiming the girls as her “sisters,” as there was a very short age span between them.
    Violet met her soon to be husband, Milton, at a dance hall in Mentor in 1960. The two danced their way into the future and married on February 27, 1962. They had three children, Julie, Rosie, and Milton Jr.
    Together, they enjoyed dancing, fishing, field work, working on cars (while mom watched) and making their home(s) together. They lived in Mahnomen, moved to Oklee, (where her sister, Marie, lived at the time), and made their last move to Erskine, where she and Milton would meet very special friends Carol and Gerry Swanson and their two boys, Greg and Steve.  The two families became very fast and close friends and much time has been spent together ever since, including many music (jam sessions) and many meals and special times were shared.
    In the 1990s, Milton and Violet rented a restaurant in West Fargo, and traveling became the norm, as Violet was the head chef in the café, where she met another dear friend, Rose Duescher. Violet became Rose’s “Minnesota Mom” and many special memories were made and fond times were spent together with the family.
    Violet later owned a café in Newfolden with Milton. She later became employed at the Shooting Star Casino in Mahnomen as a dishwasher, where many water fights happened with her daughter Julie, with most of them started by Violet, and many new friends were made. Much time was spent with Milton, Rosie and Milton Jr., where fishing was much enjoyed.
    Later in life, a granddaughter, HaileeBeth Violet, came into her life and many happy times began.  Violet treasured spending as much time with her granddaughter as she could, where laughter filled the room. That’s grandma’s baby’s baby.
    Violet entered the Pioneer Memorial Care Center in mid October and sadly, on April 5 (Milton Sr.’s birthday), Julie, Rosie, and Milton, Jr. learned that Violet had cancer.  She lost her battle to cancer on Sunday, April 27, 2008.
    She leaves behind her two daughters, Julie (James) Gevik of Fertile and Rosie Pazdernik (Jeramiah Keller) of Erskine; and son, Milton Pazdernik Jr. (Shelley Rowley) and one granddaughter, HaileeBeth Violet of Euclid; two brothers, Palmer Amberson of Solway and Alvin (Ella) Amberson of Bemidji; special friends, “The Swansons,” Paul Warmsbecker and family, Rose Duescher, Jyll Gudvangen and Mariah Gudvangen, and Joann King; and many nieces, nephews, friends and loved ones.
    She was preceded in death by her husband, Milton, Sr.; one unborn infant son, David; her parents; sisters, Marie, Juliea, and Cecilia; and brothers, Morris, Arnold, and Walter; several friends; and a niece.
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