Esther Viola Peters

Esther Viola Peters was born on February 28th, 1930, on a farm in Grossweide School District. This is where she spent her childhood days and went to school, including Gr. 9 by correspondence. Vi accepted Jesus as her Lord and Saviour in Gr. 4 was baptized at age 13 and became a member of the Grossweide MB Church. Her teen years were spent working for neighbours weeding corn and topping sugar beets. Winter days were filled with sewing, embroidering, and knitting. She came to Winnipeg to work as a “Day Girl”, doing housekeeping jobs to earn money to go to Bible School in Winkler. After 4 years she graduated with a diploma in Biblical Studies and during a 2 1/2 month break in school she completed her Gr. 10 by correspondence.

Vi met Jake in Bible School and they started dating during their 3rd year. After graduating they each moved to Winnipeg where Vi worked at the Canadian Wheat Board. Jake and Vi were married in 1956 and over the next years Ken, Brenda and Wanda were born. They spent their summers travelling with trips to BC, Texas, annual holidays to Elkhorn and enjoyed camping and fishing together. Life was busy these early days with gardening, canning, cooking, and lots of time spent at the sewing machine, making her children’s clothes.

Jake and Vi joined the Fort Garry MB Church and Vi was promptly approached to teach Beginners class and started Girl’s Club. She loved the Lord and faithfully served in various ministries including the Mom’s Program, chairing the Social Committee, many years on the Nutimik Church Family Camp Committee and diligently served as an Usher for over 20 years. Vi also spent much time preparing food for conventions such as the Canadian MB Conference, the American MB Conference and SOAR Heartland.

Together Jake and Vi established Alpine Agencies Real Estate and had their own revenue homes for many years. She enjoyed designing their 2 homes which they built. After the children left home Vi started sewing professionally, making draperies, cushions, and bedroom ensembles. She built up her cliental which kept her very busy, including sewing for Show Homes, McDonalds, 529 Wellington, the Governor’s home, Holiday Inn, the Mint, and the Parliament buildings. Vi continued to sew into her 90’s, for places such as Beth Knox Designers, Mansell’s, Super Blinds and Pine Ridge Hollow. Gardening, puzzling, baking, and spending time with family were highlights in her later years. She also loved spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Vi was hospitalized with pneumonia in April where the doctors discovered that her Myelodysplasia Syndrome transitioned to Acute Leukemia. She was determined to get home and resume some of her normal activities. She surpassed all the doctor's expectations by coming home in June where Vi enjoyed several more months with family.

Viola Peters went to be with her Lord and Saviour on Monday August 8, 2022. Predeceased by her husband Jake in 2014 and lovingly remembered by her children; Ken (Claudette), Brenda (Gerald), Wanda (Howard), grandchildren; Kristel (Scott), Jason (Dana), Jennifer (Nick), Jessica, Jenelle, Noah (Nicole), Karly (Adam) and 13 great grandchildren; Eric, Dylan, Casey, AJ, Cohen, Carson, Maya, Jensen, Kallia, Emmalyn, Isabel, Lucas, Logan. Sadly, missed by sisters; Irene, Elva and brother, Wesley (Sharon).