Violet M. Gessele, 90, formerly of Mercer, ND died July 20, 2019 at Augusta Place, Bismarck, ND. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 AM Thursday, July 25, 2019 at Calvary United Methodist Church, 609 North 34 ^th Street, Bismarck with Pastor Perry Schnabel officiating. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service on Thursday at the church. Interment will be held at 2:00 PM Thursday at the Mercer Hillside Cemetery in Mercer, ND.

Violet was born June 1, 1929 in Mercer the daughter of John and Katherine (Rust) Miller. She was raised and educated in Mercer. She graduated from the Mercer High School in 1947. Violet married Leonard Gessele on November 30, 1947 in Turtle Lake, ND. They purchased a farm near Mercer where they made their home and raised their two daughters. Leonard and Violet enjoyed travelling and spending their winters in Apache Junction, AZ. They made many friends in Arizona of whom Violet kept in contact with until her death. Leonard died on April 4, 1994 and Violet continued to live on the farm for five years until moving to Bismarck. She became a resident of the Augusta Place in 2017. Violet and her sister, Mary Ann lived near each other their entire life including the past two years at Augusta Place. One of Violet's greatest memories was the trip she took with her family to Alaska.

Violet is survived by her daughters, Sheryl Gabriel of Hettinger, ND and JoAnn (Peter) Shae of Ulen, MN; her grandsons, Darin Gabriel of West Fargo, ND, Kory (Kristi) Shae of Fargo, ND and Andrew (Billie Jo) Shae of Fargo; her granddaughter, Christi Gabriel of Fargo; her great grandchildren, Austin Gabriel and Carson Shae; her sister, Mary Ann Westerlind of Bismarck; her sisters-in-law, Aletha Vossler and Marilyn Gessele both of Bismarck and several nieces and nephews, many of who were very special to Violet.