Violet Maki Obituary

Violet Ruth Maki

Violet Ruth Maki passed away on Wednesday, December 11, 2024, in Billings, Mont., while listening to the hymn "When We All Get to Heaven." Members of her family were by her side.

Vi was the daughter of Pete and Freida Oquist. She was born at home on July 23, 1937, in Ogilvie, Minn. Violet grew up in Pengilly, Minn., and enjoyed experiencing the seasonal changes and the life experiences she gained in Minnesota. In 1964, Violet married Robert Maki, and they eventually moved to Babbitt, Minn., and were blessed with their daughter, Lynn and son, Michael Robert.

Violet was a lifelong member of the Woodland Presbyterian Church in Babbitt and enjoyed helping with church bazaars, arranging food for special events, and looked forward to "Coffee 'N" after church services. She enjoyed watching football and was a life-long fan of the Vikings. Her love of football was evident when she begged to be able to watch her grand-daughter cheer for a High School varsity team. Vi also enjoyed watching hockey, a fond memory of their mom "coaching" the USA to win the gold over Russia in the 1980 Winter Olympics has been shared multiple times during hockey seasons. Visiting with friends and relatives over a cup of coffee and a pastry or donut was certainly looked forward to throughout the week. Violet kept her coffee and donut supply well stocked. She read her Bible and prayed daily. As her pain was increasing, she said "my pain is nothing compared to the pain Jesus endured for us".

She is survived by her daughter, Lynn Nielsen, and son, Michael (Lisa) Maki; grandchildren, Crystal and Mikayla Nielsen; Alexis, Raelynn, Robert and Eli Maki; and many cousins, nieces and nephews. She will be greatly missed by family and friends, who will now be lacking in physical mail as Violet loved to send cards and letters of encouragement. Violet will also be missed by the Lily Pad Daycare littles who all affectionately called her "Grandma Quack-Quack" as they copied her grandson, Eli.

Violet was preceded in death by her parents, Pete and Freida Oquist; her brothers: Fred, Arnold, Edward and Wallace Oquist; her sisters: Adeline Oquist, Eleanore Woods, Ethel Maki, Lillian Oquist, and Eileen Bentley; and her husband, Robert Maki.

The family wishes to thank St. John's Transitional Care in Billings for their excellent and compassionate end of life care.

Violet's family is honoring her request that no services be held for her at this time. The family is planning to host a Celebration of Violet's life and her love for "Coffee an' sometime this summer.

The family would like to point out that Violet wanted her obituary to simply read: "She lived. She prayed. She died. She's happy!"

Final arrangements have been entrusted to Cremation and Funeral Gallery in Billings, Mont.