Viola Martha (Bergman) Hettinger

Viola Martha Bergman Hettinger

Viola Martha Bergman Hettinger, 86, was born to Maria Goertz Bergman and Cornelius Funk Bergman on Nov. 23, 1920, in Hillsboro. She spent her first five years living in Hillsboro with her parents, sisters and many other Mennonite family members in the community. In 1926, they moved to Newton. While attending high school, she worked as a tutor, secretary and at a photography studio. She graduated from Newton High School in 1938. She was a member and was confirmed at the First Mennonite Church of Newton. From a musical family, she excelled at singing and violin.

From 1939 to 1940, she attended Emporia State Teachers College in Emporia, majoring in music with the goal of becoming a teacher. Due to the Depression, she returned to full-time work with the VanSickle Co. in Emporia. She often would ride the train to Newton to visit her family and on one of these trips, mistakenly took the seat of an Army Air Corps private from Kansas City, Jack Hettinger. They exchanged addresses and even a few frames on his movie camera film documening their first meeting.

Their writing courtship continued, with a few furlough dates, becoming engaged in 1943 and married on Jan. 16, 1944, at First Mennonite Church in Newton. In the spring of 1945, she was able to move to Ketchikan, Ark., to be near Jack where he was stationed, working at the Coca Cola Co. and tutoring Metlakatla Indian girls.

After the war, they moved to Kansas City, Mo., where they proceeded to raise a family. Viola and Jack were active members at Evangelical United Brethern, Southwest and O.P. Bible, and Colonial Presbyterian churches in Kansas City. They enjoyed belonging to many small group fellowships, sang solos and duets, were in many choirs, and participated in evangelical and missionary support work, and Viola always enjoyed teaching crafts at summer VBS and helping neighborhood children attend as well.

She enjoyed sewing and knitting, and worked in various art media including painting and copper enameling. She exhibited and was honored many times at the Plaza, Prairie Village and Westport Art fairs and was a member of many art guilds.

In 1971, they retired to Littleton, Colo. Viola worked full time for Bryan Publishing Co. and Calvary Temple Publications in Denver. She enjoyed writing and continued to write many short stories, poems and family histories. She was active at Bear Creek Presbyterian, Trinity Evangelical Presbyterian, Calvary Temple and Littleton United Methodist churches.

In 1978, they served a year with the Wycliffe Bible Translators in Huntington Beach, Calif. They returned to Denver, where she continued her artwork, as well as enjoying their mountain drives, seven grandchildren and trips to visit family and friends in their remaining years.

After Jack passed away in 2002, Viola returned home to Kansas in 2005, living at Aberdeen Village in Olathe. She enjoyed a return trip to Hillsboro and Newton last fall, visiting her family and seeing the Flint Hills.

During this last year, she enjoyed seeing many family members and friends, familiar places in Kansas City and attending chapel at Aberdeen Village. Viola was a dedicated and loving wife, mother and grandmother. She taught us all to care for others rather than ourselves and encouraged us in our personal faith. She had great fortitude to continue on in difficult times, and we are glad she is at peace now with the Lord. We will miss her wry humor, love, support and the spark in her eyes.

She is survived by her children, Ingrid DuLac of Dania Beach, Fla., Daniel Hettinger of Olathe, Heidi Blake of Shawnee, and Amy Croissant and husband Michael of Brighton, Colo.; seven grandchildren, Kate Flock of Roslindale, Mass., Chris Flock of Cambridge, Mass., Gabriel Crossiant of Brighton, Colo., Jack Croissant of Kersey, Colo., Heather Blake Myer of New York City, and Giselle Croissant and Beau Croissant of Brighton, Colo; and two sisters, Marie Jantz of Newton and Edna Hollasch of Clarksville, Ind.

Two older brothers, Albert and Elmer, died in childhood before the three sisters were born.

Visitation will be from 1:30 to 3 p.m. followed by funeral services at 3 p.m. on Saturday at Mount Moriah & Freeman Funeral Home, 10507 Holmes Road in Kansas City, Mo.

Memorial gifts can be made to the Mennonite Central Committee Relief Fund, P.O. 235, North Newton, KS 67117.