Viola Goldan

Viola Goldan Babe passed away peacefully in her apartment at the Junction City Retirement Center at the age if 102. She loved her home and everyone that worked there. She called them her girls. She was born on Sept. 30, 1915 to Jacob and Agnetta Hovdestad, immigrants from Norway, in the family home in Norwich, N.Dakota, with a neighbors help. She was the youngest of 11 children, thus the name Babe, which stuck her entire life. Babe grew up a tomboy learning many of her athletic skills from her brother Joe. She was a star softball pitcher among other things. Walking 2 miles on crusted snow to their one room school house was a reality for her and her siblings. Her dad died when she was 11 and things changed. Her mother, unable to run the farm, took the family, which was 5 girls at that time, and moved into Minot. She bought a house and took in young men boarders from the college, and with 5 girls in the house!! She lived there through High School and College, going to Minot State Teachers College, which was 2 years then.. Being athletic she took an interest in Earl (Goldie) Goldan, who was a star athlete at the college. He also took an interest in her being an athlete in High School. Needless to say where this story is going. They got married after she finished school and they began their teaching careers in N. Dakota, Montana and Oregon. They both loved their students. Then the family came. Jim was born in Chester Montana, Judy back in Minot while dad was in the service, and Linda in Lewiston Montana. We moved to Irrigon Oregon for 7 years then to Junction City in 1954, where she lived for 64 years. She liked every minute spent here. She loved music and sang in many choirs, oil painted, belonged to BPW forever, volunteered where needed, and was active in her beloved Shepherd of The Valley Lutheran Church. She loved her God and was anxious to meet him. They loved to travel, her favorite trip being to the Holy Lands. They went to Death Valley for several weeks every year, went to State and National Parks, and as children we were always excited for our next journey when school let out for the summer. What memories. And through all of this they competed at shooting pool, pitching horseshoes and cribbage of which they kept a running score for 20 years. Mom loved her many friends and family including her children and great grandchildren as they were one of her greatest joys in life. She was an inspiration to all. Babe is survived by her daughter Judy (Bob) Dixon of Stayton,and Linda (Chuck) Malpass of Junction City, grandchildren Doug, Jeff, Corey, Alison, step grandchildren, Mike and Deanna. She has 7 great grandchildren and 7 great, great grandchildren. She also has a neice and several nephews. She was preceeded in death by her husband, Goldie, her parents and ten siblings, her son Jim and great, great grandaughter Avah, and a neice and nephew . Babe was much loved and will be forever missed. She will live in our hearts. Services will be held on Thurs. July 5, at 3:00 at Shepherd of The Valley Lutheran Church on Lingo Lane about 2 miles north of Junction City on Hwy 99E. Arrangements entrusted to Murphy-Musgrove Funeral Home. Please access the obituary and you are invited to sign the guestbook at musgroves.com.