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Violet Virginia McDonald, 88, of Longville, Minnesota passed away Wednesday, November 2, 2011 at St. Josephs Hospital in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Violet was born August 10, 1923 in Blind Lake Township to Benjiman and Irene (Mitchell) Mayer. She grew up and attended country school near her home. When her family moved to Florida Vi stayed in the area and married Walter "Mick" Putnam. They lived in rural Longville where they raised their children, and Vi worked as a waitress, manned the Longville fire tower, and also ran the rural telephone office from their home in Longville to help support her family. In 1974 Mick was involved in a car accident which left him comatose for three years prior to his death in 1977. Vi then took real estate classes in Bemidji and sold real estate for many years until her marriage to Dick McDonald. She and Dick lived in Merrifield, and traveled to Florida most winters. Dick passed away in 1998. Vi moved back to the Longville area where she has lived until the present.

Vi was a doer and a survivor, always hard working and persistent. She was active in the Young at Heart Club, the Red Hat Society, and the Widows Club. She worked at the tourist information booth in Longville and enjoyed the social aspect of being an active part of the community. She also enjoyed traveling during her retirement years, as well as "road cruising" the back roads near home. Vi will be remembered as a woman who did things her own way, and lived life to the fullest.

Vi is survived by her children; Walter "Zeke" (Colleen)Putnam of Bemidji, Vicki Jo Wasen of Laporte, Michele (Connie) Putnam of Longville, stepchildren; John "Jack" (Susan) McDonald, Muriel "Arlyne" (Alex) Fraser, Ann (George) Lee Halverson, Susan Heikkenen, William (Sue) McDonald, Jaime (Patti) McDonald), 10 grandchildren, 4 great grandchildren, two brothers; Wayne and Lowell Mayer, and numerous step grandchildren, step great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husbands; George "Dick" McDonald and Walter "Mick" Putnam, brothers; Enoch, Bennie, and Edson , and sisters Wilma and Claudine, grandson Todd Putnam and step son-in-law Curt Heikkenen .

Funeral services will be held Monday, November 7, 2011 at 11:00 A.M. at Salem Lutheran in Longville with Rev. Paul Svingen officiating. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. Interment will be in the Wabedo Blind lake Cemetery near Longville. The Dennis Funeral Home of Longville assisted the family in making service arrangements. Share on-line condolences at www.dennisfuneralhome.com

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