Violet Cote, 91, of Oklee, MN passed away on Monday, January 27, 2025 at Essentia Health in Fargo, ND with her loving family by her side.
The funeral service to celebrate Violet’s life will be held at 1:00 PM on Friday, February 7, 2025 at Zion Lutheran Church in Oklee, MN with Eric Mickelson officiating. Burial will follow at Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Oklee, MN at a later date.
Visitation will be held from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM with a prayer service at 6:30 PM on Thursday, February 6, 2025 at Zion Lutheran Church in Oklee, MN. Visitation will also take place one hour prior to the funeral service.
Violet Marie (Plante) Cote was born on September 18, 1933 at home to parents, Vedo and Myrtle (Hunter) Plante. She was baptized at Saron Lutheran Church, rural Erskine and Confirmed on at Grace Lutheran Church, Erskine. Violet graduated from Erskine High School May 1953.
She got married and her husband was in the service, so Violet had the opportunity to travel being a military wife being stationed in Bermuda, Georgia, and back to Minnesota and they eventually settled in St. Paul. They had four boys, Lonny, Tim, Larry and David. They later divorced and Violet moved to Oklee, MN where she has lived since. Violet was engaged to Aurel Hauge from Fertile for many years, Aurel died in 1985.
Violet had a love for children and provided daycare not only for her siblings while her parents worked on the farm, but also after she was married. She started taking care of neighboring children while living in the Twin Cities and continued when she moved to Oklee with Richard Hendrickson being her first charge in Oklee. She continued to do daycare until she retired when she was 75 years old. Many times, when she would be eating at a restaurant or shopping, she was always drawn to children and they were very receptive to her, as if they knew they were in the presence of a special lady who loved children.
After she retired from childcare, she started volunteering at the Oklee Senior Site, first working at the desk, and expanding her duties to include taking care of the reporting duties for the Senior Meals/volunteer hours. She handed over those duties at the age of 89.
In her youth she played guitar with her mother and sister Gloria as the family was very musical. She was in the Zion Lutheran Church’s Zionettes Choir. She always had time to play games with her children and daycare kids. She loved to read when she had a chance and embroidered towels for several years to give away to family. When her hands started failing her with embroidery, she turned to puzzles to keep her occupied.
She is survived by her children, Lonny (Bonny) Cote, Tim (Wendy) Cote, Larry (Ginger) Cote, and David (Barb) Cote. Grandchildren: Creanna (special friend Sherri) Cote, Aleah (Kevin) Holden, Crysta (Kenny) Foster, Becky Cote, Celeste Cote and Kristen Cote. Step-Grandchildren: Justin, Cheryl, Kelsey and Kayla. Step-Great-Grandchildren: Max, Ava, Eloise, Rozlynn, Hazel, Cora, Magnus. Sister Gloria Benedick. Sisters-in-law: Leona Plante, Janet Plante, Lola Plante and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded by her parents, Vedo & Myrtle Plante. Siblings, Darlane Fjerstad, Joyce Cook, Rick Plante, David Plante and Virgel Plante. Fiancé Aurel Hauge, daughter-in-law Linda Cote, and several nieces and nephews.
# Violet Cote, #