Viola Maehren’s 100th Birthday
We recently celebrated Viola Maehren’s 100th birthday outside her residence in St Paul.
Viola Maehren was an early organizer of LEA , and on the LEA board for many years. LEA has been informing voters since 1972 on the basis of its Credo, supporting American founding principles and ideals. On the left, she is animated at the 2016 LEA Awards Banquet.
Viola is one of those high-energy, highly principled, enthusiastic citizens with the passion to makes things happen. She Viola was an election judge for many years for Ramsey county, and is an active volunteer making the altar breads at Saint Agnes Church. She helps prepare 2,000 hosts each week.
She won an Eagle Award in 1975:
“Eagle Forum’s mission is to enable conservative and pro-family men and women to participate in the process of self-government and public policymaking so that America will continue to be a land of individual liberty,respect for family integrity, public and private virtue,national independence, constitutional government, and private enterprise.We honor Eagle Forum’s citizen volunteers for their dedicated work at every level of government since 1972.–Phyllis Schlafly”
We honor Viola’s commitment, energy, and service.
https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/sctimes/obituary.aspx?n=viola-mary-maehren&pid=197199669&fhid=2821
Viola passed away soon after her birthday celebration. Her service was held Dec. 4, 2020.
Viola was a powerhouse of a person who took on challenges without reluctance or reservation. I’m so glad she convinced me to be chapter president of Minn. Republican Women. That was an invaluable experience! That was the way she was-she raised you up to find talents you never really knew you had. Many will miss her. She made it to 100 and then must have thought—‘Lord, I’m yours—give me a new job, I’m ready!’
Friend
I learned just now of Vi Maehren’s 100th b-d celebration and subsequent passing. Vi was a person of integrity. I am probably the only living member of the original or early “crew” of LEA member/supporters such as Jim Blilie, Rep. Walter Kraus, Vi and several others who are part of the LEA record.
If I live to 14 August 2021 I will reach 95 years of age. I am a WWII army veteran and subsequently served one term as a State Rep from then District 19A which included my home county of Chisago and part of Anoka and of Isanti counties. We scrutinized the voting records of the Legislators and didn’t give out
words of praise to those who did not meet the high standards of LEA.
Viola Maehren’s impact on the lives of many people lives on and reminds us of what one person
can do with the talents that God gives each one of us. She was encouraging and upbeat even against
the odds. I miss her but remember her gentle spirit and encouraging attitude.
A few of us who worked with her while she was in the MN Constitution Party attended her memorial service in Avon, MN where she grew up. She will be missed.