Violet was born in Sundance, WY, April 3, 1933, to George and Maita (Anderson) Christiansen. Her father passed away when she was 6 and her mother married Rapheal Larive. Violet married Joseph Erk, on June 2, 1954, in St. Onge, SD. They farmed and ranched near Newell. She was a member of the St. Mary’s Star of the Sea Altar Society and loved to spend time gardening, cooking, helping with lambs and pheasants, talking with people, and especially time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Violet M. Erk, 85, Newell, died Saturday, October 20, 2018, at the Rapid City Regional Hospital Hospice House. Violet is survived by her daughter, Teresa (Noel) Chicoine, Pierre; three sons, Henry (Dawn) Erk, Rapid City, Tim (Deb) Erk, Rapid City, and Bill Erk, Newell; two brothers, Albert (Janet) Larive, Buckeye, AZ, and George Larive, Riverton, WY; sister, Alberta Nelson, Newell, SD; grandchildren, Michelle (Joe) Bucholz, Black Hawk, April (Jeff) Smith, Pierre, Nathan (Catherine) Chicoine, Johnson Siding, Brian Chicoine (fiancée Nikki), Minneapolis, MN, Shaun (Courtney) Erk, Black Hawk, and Kayla (Shawn) Hall, Salem, OR; and great-grandchildren, Taya and Jolene Bucholz, Aspen Hall, and Olivia Erk. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Joseph; infant son, Thomas; brother, Nels Larive; and sister, Lillian Deroiser. Visitation will be from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, October 24, with a Vigil starting at 7:00 p.m. at Kinkade Funeral Chapel in Sturgis. Mass of Christian burial will be 10:00 a.m. Thursday, October 25, 2018, at St. Mary’s Star of the Sea Catholic Church in Newell with Father Timothy Castor officiating. Burial will follow at Hope Cemetery in Newell. In lieu of flowers, memorials have been established to the St. Mary’s Church and the Newell Ambulance service.