Viola J. Aberson, 86, beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother passed away peacefully at St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester, MN on September 2, 2021. Viola was born December 14, 1934 in George, Iowa; the youngest of eight children of Jacob and Sophia Willemssen. She grew up on a farm near George and graduated from George High School. She attended Northwestern College in Orange City, IA and went on to Rockford Memorial Hospital School of Nursing in Rockford, IL. After graduation she worked as an RN in Denver, Colorado during the polio epidemic. She missed country life so returned to Iowa where she married Henry John Aberson on March 23, 1961. This was the start of a great partnership, first on a dairy farm near Ireton, IA then in 1972 they moved and settled on a dairy and crop farm north of Pipestone, MN, there they raised four daughters. After retiring from farming in 2006 they moved to an acreage near Lakefield, MN and after Henry's passing in 2009 Viola lived in Windom, MN until moving to Cottagewood Senior Living and Memory Care in Rochester, 2018. Viola loved living in the country and had a great love and appreciation of nature, all animals and especially enjoyed bird watching and anything to do with the weather. She enjoyed reading and kept up on all things related to farming right up until her passing. She had several well used Bibles near her throughout her life, with passages marked and often referred to, she was a "prayer warrior" and we found she had a list at her bedside of people and concerns she prayed about. She also taught Sunday school for many years loved sharing stories of what the kids would tell her. Vi's sense of humor and pleasure in spending time with her family with phone calls and visits; time spent with grandkids and great grandchildren and family trips leave us with great memories. She was someone who led by example; was a great listener, a very patient and calming presence, who made the best sprouted wheat bread, apple pies, doughnuts, and peach jams. She enjoyed a good harmony, listening to music, and taking drives to look at the crops. On the farm she was the baby calf expert, book keeper, parts runner, etc. and thought nothing of working all day, then going out as a family in the evening to walk beans after supper. If it rained we would get to go fishing at one of the lakes nearby and spent many an evening enjoying the night sky. Viola was preceded in death by her parents and sisters; Luella (Willard) Lehman, Myrtle Willemssen, Irene Willemssen, Evelyn Willemssen, Iva (Wayne) Huisman; brothers Rev. Raymond Willemssen and Walter Willemssen, sister-in-law Valoris Willemssen, niece Wanda Kooiman, nephews Scott Willemssen and Lynn Willemssen and husband Henry Aberson. She is survived by her sister-in-law Gracie (Raymond) Willemssen, many nieces and nephews and her daughters; Marsha (John) Hamre of Rochester, MN, Lavelle (Richard) Mc Manimon of Sioux Center, IA, Lisa (Gary) Erickson of Greenville, IL, and Myra Aberson of Mountain Lake, MN, grandchildren Alex Hamre, Amanda (Matt) Distad, Emory Mc Manimon, Colton Mc Manimon, Elise Mc Manimon, Ben Erickson, Rylee Erickson, Justin Erickson, Bram Bad Heart Bull and great grandchildren Owen Distad and Milo Distad. Memorials may go to a charity of your choice. Visitation will be held on Thursday, September 9, 2021, from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., followed by funeral services at 10:30 a.m., at the Benson Funeral Home in Worthington, MN. Burial will be in the Worthington Cemetery. Benson Funeral Home in Worthington is in charge of the arrangements.