Viola Hand

Viola Hand, age 99, of Fosston, MN, and formerly of Mahnomen, MN, passed away peacefully on Saturday, April 13^th, at Cornerstone Living in Fosston. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 20^th, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Fosston with Father JohnMelkies Suvakeen presiding. Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. with a Rosary at 6:30 p.m. and a Prayer Service at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, April 19^th. There will also be reviewal for one hour prior to the Mass on Saturday morning. All visitation will be held at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Fosston. 

Graveside Prayers and interment will be at 2:00 p.m., also on Saturday, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery in Beaulieu, MN. Arrangements are with Carlin Family Funeral Service of Fosston and messages of condolence may be shared at www.carlinfuneral.com.

Viola Lucille Klinkhammer was born on October 11, 1924, in La Garde Township, Mahnomen County, Minnesota to parents Gerhard and Loretta (Kirsch) Klinkhammer. She grew up in Mahnomen County and attended country school. She worked at Ben Franklin in Mahnomen and at the Flowing Well near Beaulieu. 

Viola was united in marriage to Francis Hand on October 14, 1948, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Beaulieu. After their marriage, they made their home and farmed near Beaulieu. Together they moved to Fairbanks, AK in 1952, then Sand Point, ID, and Moses Lake, WA. They returned to Beaulieu in 1967 and purchased Viola’s parent’s farm. They lived on the farm until moving to Fosston in 2003. Francis passed away unexpectedly in 2005. Vi continued to live at her home in Fosston until 2019, when she moved to the Summerfield Place Apartments and then Cornerstone Assisted Living. 

Viola enjoyed crocheting, baking, gardening and crafts. She was a past member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Beaulieu and currently a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Fosston. During her life, she had been active in the Lengby and Bejou American Legion Auxiliary groups and Christian Mother’s at St. Joseph’s.

Survivors include her son, Douglas (Linda) of Fosston; daughter, LaVonne “Bonnie” of Bemidji, MN; and daughters-in-law, Debbie Hand of Moorhead, MN and Suzanne Hand of Port Townsend, WA; two sisters, Lucille (Wilbur) Bjerke of Spokane, WA and Cecilia Mazour of Mahnomen; three brothers, Clarence Klinkhammer of Montana, Ray (Sandy) Klinkhammer of Mahnomen, MN, and Donald (Joyce) Klinkhammer of Lake Park, MN; 11 grandchildren, Ben (Ashley) Hand, Dominic (Megan) Hand, Jon (Lori) Hand, Tony (McKenzie) Hand, Monique (Alex) Nelson, Abby (Gary) Daggett, Lucas (Krista) Hand, Jordan (Brianna) Hand, Cory Hand, Travis (Morgan) Hand, and Brady (Sara) Hand; 18 great grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Francis; parents, Gerhard “Jerry” and Loretta “Laura” Klinkhammer; sons, Richard and Paul; sisters, Marie Straub and Lenora Scott; brothers, Joseph, Alphonse and Gerald Klinkhammer; and two grandchildren, Jacqueline and Zachary Hand.