Viola A. Pickering

Former Hastings resident, Viola A. Pickering, 94, passed away, Friday, February 7, 2014 in Grand Island, NE.

Services will be Monday, February 10, 2014 at 2:30 pm at the United Methodist Church, Hastings, with Rev. Sam Rathod officiating. Burial will be in Parkview Cemetery, Hastings. Visitation will be Sunday, February 9, 2014 from 1 pm to 5 pm with the family present from 3 pm to 5 pm at the Apfel Funeral Home, Hastings. Condolences may be sent to the family from www.apfelfuneralhome.com.

Viola was born, September 18, 1919 on a farm near, Campbell, NE to Frank C and Laura A (Paulson) Koch. In 1935 Viola and her sister Doris were baptized and joined the Methodist Church in Kenesaw, NE. Later the family moved to Kenesaw, NE where she spent her school years and graduated from high school in 1937.

On October 12, 1940 Viola married Virgil R. Pickering and moved to Grand Island, NE. In 1948 they moved to Hastings and were blessed with four daughters.

Viola was involved in PTA, Girl Scouts, the Methodist Church Womans group and the Methodist Church. She also belonged to the Adams County Extension Club for over 25 years.

She worked for Southern Nebraska Rural Public Power and later in a local retail shop. Viola and her family were avid campers in their travel trailer. They traveled the country and spent over ten years in Texas or Arizona in winters.

She is survived by her daughters, Beverly Ochsner of Sutton, NE, Lois Hultine (Don) of Hastings, NE, Marcia Hinrikus (Jerry) of Salina, KS and Bonnie Malcolm (Andrew) of Columbus, NE, 11 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her beloved husband Virgil, her parents, sister Doris and son-in-law, Ronald Ochsner.