The Superior Express -

Viola C. Gritten, 97, was born on June 12, 1924, on the family farm near Republic, the daughter of William A. and Dollie D. (Stradley) Hallack. Vi attended and graduated from Republic High School, Class of 1941.

She took normal training and taught in country schools for four years. She used her love for people and untaught ability to use psychology to manage even the orneriest students.

She was united in marriage to Leo James Gritten on June 12, 1946, and to this union of more than 60 years, one daughter, Gretchen, was born.

Vi and Leo farmed north of Courtland, and Vi was a farm wife and home

maker, helping Leo in any way she could. She was an excellent gardener and canned the vegetables she grew. She had many talents and used those as a baker and cake decorator to make and decorate wedding cakes for several of her nieces and nephews. Eventually, she used her exceptional skills as a seamstress at MC Industries sewing medical supplies. After they retired from farming, Vi and Leo moved to Belleville. Vi liked people and enjoyed visiting with and helping family and friends in any way she could.

Viola died March 12, 2022, in Clyde, Kan.

She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Leo; daughter, Gretchen; brothers, Curtis and Gerald Hallack; and sister Maudie Sothers.

She is survived by her grandsons, John Munson of St. Peters, Mo., and James Munson of Austin, Texas; and brother, Ralph Hallack of Belleville.

Her funeral was Sunday at Tibbetts-Fischer Funeral Home in Belleville. Burial followed the service, at Union Valley Cemetery, rural Scandia