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Viola I. Eckert • 1908 - 2003 Viola I. Eckert, 95, 713 11th St. NW, Minot, died Sunday, December 7, 2003, in a Minot hospital. Viola Inez (Franklin) Eckert was born November 26, 1908, in Dodge Center, MN, the youngest daughter of Joseph and Margaret (Castle) Franklin. She moved with her parents to Douglas, ND, where she attended area schools. She later moved with her parents around North Dakota and Minnesota, while still calling Douglas home. Following her high school education, she moved to Fargo and attended Business College for a couple years. She returned to Minot and went to work as an office assistant for Piper Lumber Company of Minot. While working there, she met her future husband, Ben Eckert, who delivered gas for the Farmers Union Oil Company. They were married in Minot on May 29, 1937. In 1945, they purchased the Clarence Parker Ranch, north of Foxholm, ND. They changed the name of the ranch to the E 7 Hereford Ranch, where they farmed and raised purebred Hereford cattle. The E 7 Ranch was well known in the area for their award winning cattle, and won many honors at area shows. While helping on the ranch, Viola also became active in the Farmers Union Youth Program, where she helped with the coordination of the youth camp near, Velva, ND, Headquarters Local and Farmer Union Ladies Day. Vi and Ben continued to operate the ranch until the late 1980's, when they semi - retired. They retained ownership in the ranch to the present. Ben died on November 8, 1996. Vi continued to live in Minot until the time of her death. Viola attended Little Flower Catholic Church in Minot, where she was a member of the Confraternity of Christian Mothers. She volunteered at Bishop Ryan High School in Minot, was a member of the Waterford Homemakers Club and the ND Cowbelles. She was very active in the ND Democratic Party. Vi's gift of music allowed her to entertain people with her piano playing, which was only by ear, not by note. Memorials are preferred to the Shriner's Hospital for Children or to the charity of the donor's choice. Survivors: Viola and Ben were the proud parents of two daughters, Sharon Heinze, Minot, and Trudy (Bob) Wimer, Fargo, ND; two grandchildren, Denise (Jason) Dellwo, Sioux Falls, SD, and Nick (Shauna) Wimer, Fargo, ND; two great-grandchildren, Hayley Dellwo and Charlie Wimer. Numerous nieces and nephews also survive. Her husband, parents, brother and sisters, son-in-law, John Heinze, and great-granddaughter, preceded her in death. Funeral Mass: Thursday, December 11, 2003, 10:30 a.m. at Little Flower Catholic Church, Minot. Rosary Recitation and Prayer Service: Wednesday, December 10, 2003, 7:00 p.m. at Little Flower Catholic Church, Minot. Visitation: Wednesday, from noon to 5:00 p.m. at Thompson-Larson Funeral Home, Minot, and continuing at the church prior to the rosary at the church. Burial: St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery, Foxholm, ND. Music: John Leonard, song leader and Jeanne Artz, accompanist Active Pallbearers: Tim Dufner, Ron Kramer, Alan Dufner, Ronald Behm, Gary Phillips,Vern Behm Honorary Bearers: Viola's family and friends in the
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