Viola Marie Collingham

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Collingham, Viola Marie age 94, of Wayzata, MN died Sunday January 22, 2017 at Folkestone Hospice Care. She was born October 6, 1922 in Wabasso, MN to John and Laura E. (Christensen) Kragh. She attended school and the Presbyterian church in Redwood Falls, MN and graduated a year early in 1939 at 16 yrs. She worked at Montgomery Ward in payroll and at age 19 met her future husband, Harold Collingham. Harold left to serve his country in WWII and Viola moved to Minneapolis and worked in payroll at Continental Machines while living at Mabeth Paige Hall, a YWCA boarding house for $8/wk. She was a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church. Viola was married in 1944 and the couple settled in Worthington, MN where they owned The Walk Shop shoe store for 30 years. After Harold's death in 1975, Viola continued managing the store for another 10 years. She was affectionately known as the "shoe lady". She was active at First Baptist Church teaching Sunday school and in circle service groups. Viola enjoyed many rounds of golf with Harold, daughters and friends at the Wgtn. Country Club. In 1994, she retired to Chanhassen, MN where she was active at the Chanhassen Senior Center. She was also a member of the Arboretum Auxiliary and Mount Calvary Lutheran Church in Excelsior, MN. In 2015, at age 92 she moved to Folkestone senior community in Wayzata. Above all, Viola valued spending time with her 2 daughters and their families. We were blessed by her long earthly life and thankful for the legacy of faith, independence, strong work ethic and loving spirit she left us with and look forward to seeing her again in eternity. Viola is survived by her 2 loving daughters, Jill (Brad) Harmsen, Karen (Tom) Londo; 4 grandchildren: Michael (Carrie) Harmsen and Megan Harmsen. Sara and Andrew Londo, 2 great grandchildren, Will and Amelia Harmsen; loving relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Laura E. (Christensen) Kragh; siblings Verda (Larry) Aiken, Floyd (Joyce) Kragh, Doris (Bud) Wysuph; husband, Harold Collingham; sisters-in-law, Gertrude (Collingham) Sherard, Ethel (Collingham) Holmstrom; brother-in-law, Ernest (MariAna) Collingham. A memorial service will be held on Monday, January 30, 2017, 10 AM at Folkestone Chapel, 100 Promenade Ave, Wayzata 55391. Memorials can be made to Mount Calvary Lutheran Church or Chanhassen Senior Center.

Published on January 29, 2017