Viona Lavene Feistner, daughter of Martin and Marie (Nielson) Andersen was born March 21, 1919 at the Andersen family home on the Pony Hills west of Woonsocket.  She graduated in 1936 from Woonsocket High School and in 1939 graduated from Wessington Springs College with a teaching certificate.

Viona married Elmer Feistner on June 7, 1941 in St. Paul, MN.  They resided on their farm north of Letcher throughout their married life.  Elmer passed away September 4, 1997.  Viona continued to live on the farm until August, 2010 when she moved to Luther Manor in Sioux Falls.

Viona had a zest for life, enjoying all of God’s creation and willingly sharing her talents.  She loved teaching and used her artistic abilities to create her own visual aids.  She was a long-time member of Forestburg Lutheran Church where she served as Sunday School Superintendent for years, sang in the choir and joined in Bible studies, quilting and fellowship.  Viona loved to sing and throughout the years shared her soprano voice in harmony.  She enjoyed traveling, rock and fossil collecting, fishing with the grandchildren, tending to the farm animals and adventure.  Her 80^th birthday was a dream-come-true with a hot air balloon ride.  Viona was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother.  She loved the Lord and lived her life for Him.  She found true joy in her life by sharing God’s love and caring for others.  Viona was a true inspiration to those who knew and loved her.

Grateful for having shared her life are her son, Laren (Tammy) Feistner of Woonsocket and her daughter, Darla (Don) Kempf of Sioux Falls; her grandchildren:  Leslie (Keith) Ohlrogge of Woonsocket, Lincoln (Vickie) Feistner of Letcher, Cher (Mike) May of Sioux Falls and Micah (Tamara) Kempf of Sioux Falls; her step-grandchild, Kristy (Bill) Moore of Minneota, MN; her great-grandchildren:  Elliott, Evan and Emily Ohlrogge, Logun Feistner, Landon, Ireland and Preston May; step-great-grandchildren: Chad Fox, Laney and Landon Moore.  She is also survived by her brother, Martin (Marian) Andersen, Jr. of Woonsocket, her sister-in-law, Lorena Feistner of Sioux Falls, many nieces and nephews and her beloved dog, Skipper.

Viona was preceded in death by her husband, Elmer, her parents and her brother, Stanley Andersen.