Funeral Service for Viola Johanna Taylor, 101, of Sisseton, SD will be held on Friday, July 1, 2022 at 1:00 P.M. at Cahill Funeral Chapel, 516 East Cherry Street, Sisseton, SD with Rev. Joshua Knudson officiating. Music by Steve Eneboe. Pallbearers will be Andy Taylor, Amanda Robertson, Gene Taylor, Hannah Taylor, Robbie Dyce, and Brent Eneboe. Honorary Pallbearers will be the many children that she cared for over more than 50 years.   Interment will be in the Peever Cemetery, Peever, SD.   There will be visitation on Friday, July 1, 2022 one hour prior to the service at Cahill Funeral Chapel. The Cahill Funeral Chapel, Sisseton, SD is in charge of arrangements.

Viola Taylor, widow of Edwin Taylor, and former resident of Sisseton, passed away at a local care center in Watertown June 26, 2022. Viola was born October 8, 1920 to Julius and Mary (Jorgensen) Backman. She grew up on a farm west and south of Peever, SD. She spoke Danish until going to school where she learned to speak English. On November 14, 1945, she married Edwin Taylor and to this union four children were born: Laurell, Marlys, Eugene, and Rodney. Viola was known for many things she accomplished in her 101 years, including washing and ironing for teachers, doctors, lawyers, the hospital in Sisseton and many other individuals. She did childcare in her home for hundreds of children over a span of 50 years and tended to 2 ^nd generations of some of the children. She was known for her Danish rolls and donuts as well as bread she would bake on Saturdays. In any free time, she would have record-breaking parties selling Tupperware, Stanley Products, Aertex paints, Shackley Products, and more. She crocheted, made Afghans, embroidered, and sewed many of her children's clothes. In her retirement years she sewed hundreds of star quilts that were sold all over the US and world. If you were a relative or friend and had a new baby or got married, you were probably given one of her quilts. Viola was also known as the family photographer who was never without her camera when visiting relatives, friends or traveling. Because she was proud of the children she tended to, she took many photos of them. She also was a wedding photographer for many marriages throughout the years. Viola ended up with scores of photo albums, some which were given to the families that were in the photos before entering the nursing home. While Viola and Eddie were retired, they enjoyed traveling on bus tours and on their own throughout the states, including two trips to Hawaii. Viola was active in her church, both Grace Lutheran and later The Christian and Missionary Alliance. She taught Sunday school, was active in Ladies' Circle and was a born again practicing Christian her entire life. She was a great supporter of missionaries both here and abroad. Viola finally retired when she was 90 years old. Her eyesight was getting dim, and twice she sewed her fingers together with the sewing machine. It was decided that she should no longer live alone, and she entered Tekakwitha Nursing Home in Sisseton. Eddie had passed away 10 years earlier. In later years she entered Jenkins Nursing home, eventually becoming fully blind. Viola often entertained staff there by telling stories of her childhood. (Stories about when she tipped the horse cart into the ditch or had to attend sheep out in the pasture.) Because of the horse cart incident, she never drove an automobile. Driving was not her thing! Sometimes a staff at the home would ask me if she really babysat for that many kids at once. I would have to reply "Yes, she did! She was telling the truth!"

Viola Is survived by her children Laurell Taylor of Madison MN; Marlys (Ralph) Dyce of Madison SD; and Rodney (Nancy) Taylor of Castlewood SD; 8 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren; brother Leon Backman, and brother Donald (June) Backman and many nephews and nieces.

She was proceeded in death by her husband Edwin, an infant son Eugene, an infant grandson Joel Taylor, an infant granddaughter Rachael Taylor; five sisters: Pearl Amman, Norma Madsen, Marlys Ballhagen, Marlene Eneboe, and Eunice Berwald; and one brother Jens Backman.