Violette Irene (Roth) Ketterling, 95, passed away on Monday, October 14, at her ‘Gardens’ home in Livingston, Texas.
Violette was born on January 7, 1929, on a farm near Glen Ullin, North Dakota, to Emma (Ganthner) Roth and Edwin Ludwig Roth. She is survived by her husband, Lawrence, children (Gene, Neil, Ardyce, and daughter-in-law, Diane), a brother (Norman Roth), a sister (LaRue Roth), five grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. She is preceded in death by seven brothers (Ervin, Bernard, Eugene, Marvin, Gerald, Larry, Delmar), a sister, Esther, and a great-grandson, Darien Rothstein.
Violette received her GED the “same year as Archie Bunker,” she would proudly say. She was a homemaker, first doing custom sewing, alterations, and babysitting in their home and later worked for JC Penney’s in alterations and custom drapery. She also pursued hobbies in crocheting, beadwork, journal writing, and scrapbooking. As a couple, they enjoyed fishing, camping, traveling (a stint in Egypt), auctions, garage sales and flea markets, and, of course, music.
Although Lawrence and Violette sang all their lives in church and school, Vi first bought an autoharp at a Bluegrass Festival in 1978. After Larry retired, he picked up the mandolin, and Vi started playing guitar and bass. They started traveling in 1988, playing and singing in a band, The Dakota Ramblers. Violette wrote several songs including Valley of Memories and, on her 90th birthday, Flowers. Larry and Vi moved to Polk County, became Escapees in 1989 and in 1991 bought a lot in Livingston, following a group of other Bluegrassers who made their home in Texas.
Family and friends are invited to a Celebration of Life at the First Presbyterian Church of Livingston, Texas, on Sunday, October 27, at 1 p.m. with a reception following. For those who cannot attend, we look forward to a summer 2025 gathering in North Dakota, date/place to be announced.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to a favorite charity. For loving expressions, please visit the site of Cochran Funeral Home, Livingston, Texas.
Cochran Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Please sign our online guestbook at www.cochranfh.com. 354
