Viola Ruth Menchhofer, 96, was born near Osgood, IN as the oldest daughter of nine children to Henry W. and Ethel (Dorrel) Menchhofer on October 27, 1920. She attended Splashville grade school near their family’s farm home. After graduation in 1939 from Versailles High School she went to Cincinnati and did house work until World War II broke out. At that time she went to Indianapolis and worked in a defense plant until 1945 when she met and married Al Arsenault. Al was in the Air Force and they travelled throughout Europe and England for a number of years. In 1955 they settled in Cheyenne, WY where Viola worked in retail for J. C. Penney’s for 20 years until she retired. Rest of her life was devoted to helping others as she lived in Rancho Cordova near family and was affectionately known as “Aunti Vi” to all of her nieces and nephews. She passed away Saturday morning, February 25, 2017 at Fair Oaks, CA after many months of declining health.
Two sisters, Rose A. Westerfeld, Greensburg, and Wilma E. Greene, Cross Plains, survive “Aunti Vi.” Also surviving are her goddaughters and nieces, Vickie Belter, of Rancho Cordova, CA who was her caregiver for many years, and Tina Westerfeld, Greensburg, who shared the same birthday date as “Aunti Vi.” Also surviving are an additional 15 nieces & nephews, 30 great nieces nephews, 59 great,great nieces & nephews and 3 great, great, great nieces & nephew. She was predeceased by her parents, sister Opal Belter, brothers Irvin, Clarence, Floyd, Paul and Ray Menchhofer, 2 nephews, 2 great nieces, and 1 great, great niece.
The family will conduct a Celebration of Life at 11 am on Saturday, March 4, 2017 at the Stratton Karsteter Funeral Home in Versailles. Burial will follow at St. Paul Cemetery at Cross Roads near Batesville. Visitation will be Saturday from 9am until time of services. In lieu of flowers the family requests memorials to either the St. Paul Cemetery at Cross Roads or Tanglewood Cemetery in care of the funeral home.