Viola Louise (Strong) Cournoyer

Viola Louise (Strong) Cournoyer, age 90, of Red Lake, MN, passed away on Tuesday, April 4, 2023, from Jourdain Perpich Extended Care in Red Lake, MN. She was born in Red Lake, MN on February 19, 1933, and was the daughter of John Strong and Josephine (Jourdain) Strong.  Viola was a lifelong member of Copper City.

Viola was a high school graduate of Marty Indian Boarding School in Marty, South Dakota.  She had many favorite things; taking trips with her brother Eugene to pow-wows in MN and ND, family gatherings for birthdays, holidays, summer grilling or just stopping to visit family in Bemidji on her weekly shopping trips to Walmart for her reading material…Enquirer, The Star, People and other various magazines.  When she finished, she would give them to the family to read.  One of her special days was Mother’s Day.  Since all her daughters were born in May they got together to celebrate.  She loved babysitting all her grandkids and spending time with them.  Viola loved dancing with all her grandchildren and dancing jingle at all the area pow-wows for several years until she could no longer dance due to a leg injury.  She enjoyed thrift shopping with family, cooking, and baking for family gatherings, birthdays, and holidays, going to play her $40 at the casino and spending her winnings at the gift shops.  Viola was an amazing single mother of 9 children.  She was firm but was as soft and loving as they came.  She did it all…A true superwoman!

Those that have passed before Viola are her parents, John and Josephine Strong; son, Baby Cournoyer; sister, Bernice Jourdain; brothers, Fabian Strong and Robert Strong; grandsons, Brian Cournoyer, Roger Strong, Jr. and Rodney Cournoyer; granddaughter, Brandi Lynn Strong; great grandson; Karson Neadau and niece, Darlene Ogema.

Those Viola leaves behind to forever cherish her memory are her daughters, Jean (Herman) Donnell of Redby, Rose Cournoyer of Bemidji, Debbie Cournoyer of Bemidji, Marlys (Marvin) Stone of Bemidji; sons, John (Patti) Cournoyer, Jr., of Hugo, MN, Darrell Cournoyer of Redby, David (Val) Cournoyer of Redby, Roger Strong of Redby and Ron (Patty) Cournoyer of Cass Lake; brother, Eugene Strong of Redby, 37 grandchildren, 102 great grandchildren and 5 great great grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.

A visitation for Viola will begin on Tuesday, April 11, 2023, at 3:30 p.m. and continue until her 2:00 p.m. funeral service, Thursday, April 13, 2023, all to be held at the Redby Community Center in Redby, MN. Father John Christian will officiate.  Pallbearers are John Cournoyer, David Cournoyer, Darrell Cournoyer, Roger Strong, Ron Cournoyer, Clint Donnell, Sr., Justin Donnell, David Cournoyer, Jr., Clint Donnell, Jr., and Douglas Colhoff, Jr.  Honorary pallbearers Sandra Brown, Annette Brown, Kathy Johns, Rita Weise, Floyd Jourdain, Sr., Elaine Johnson, Marie Wilson, Ed Strong, Roberta Spears, Charlotte Monette, Alberta Mountain, Thelma May, Herman Strong, Kathleen Strong, Val Chase, Billy Green, Johnny Johnson, Carol Barrett, Alberta Senogles, Gus Strong, Floyd “Buck” Jourdain, Jr. and staff at Jourdain Perpich. Burial will be in St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery in Red Lake, MN.

Viola’s care has been entrusted to Northern Peace Funeral Home of Walker, MN. Online condolences for the family may be left at www.northernpeace.com

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