Violet Kirschman, 97, of McClusky died Sunday April 5, 2020 at the CHI Community Hospital of Turtle Lake.

CDC recommendations ​include social distancing, hand cleansing and staying away if sick; these rules will be followed for the visitation which will be from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Wednesday April 8, 2020 at the Hertz Funeral Home of McClusky.

Private services will be held at the Hertz Funeral Home of McClusky burial will be at a later date in the McClusky City Cemetery.

Violet (Schick) Kirschman was born April 4, 1923 in Wittaker Township, near McClusky. She was the daughter of August and Katherine (Roth) Schick. She attended first and second grade in McClusky and moved to Denhoff in 1932. She accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior in 1939 at a Nazarene Church Revival Crusade in Harvey. She graduated from Denhoff High School in 1941 and then started teaching in local country schools. Violet married Reuben Kirschman, January 1, 1942 at Denhoff Nazarene Church. Together they operated a tourist resort in Lake Milaka, MN with Fred and Ella Kirschman during the summer of 1943. They moved back to ND and lived southwest of Denhoff, on the Brockel Farm and she continued teaching in country schools and Denhoff. In 1958, they moved to McClusky and Violet started teaching elementary classes there. In 1960, she attended Minot State College (evenings and weekends) and received her teaching degree, which Sheridan County then required. At this time, Rueben and Violet formed a very close and lasting relationship with Curtis Mertz. Reuben and Violet purchased the R&H Motel in 1983 and also operated the Skaley Store/Cafe at Brush Lake, part-time for a few summers.  Reuben passed away in 1992 and Violet sold the R&H Motel (to Elmer & Darliss Laib) and moved to the west side of town (the former Zimbelman/Roth home).  In 2008 Violet moved to the McClusky apartments, in 2009 to the Sheridan Memorial Home and lastly into the CHI St. Alexius Health Turtle Lake Hospital in 2017.  Violet spent over 40 years teaching in Sheridan County.  While attending the McClusky United Methodist Church, teaching Sunday School, playing piano, singing in the choir, serving on the church council and enjoyed being part of the UMW. She was also a member of the Sheridan Memorial Auxiliary.  In her spare time she enjoyed:  bible study, watching the inspirational channel, gardening, sewing, knitting, cooking (she and Rueben were excellent cooks), word searches, puzzles, crafts & games, spending time with nieces and nephews, fishing in MN, Canada and locally, and traveling to visit relatives on the east and west coasts. While living at the two care homes, Violet enjoyed playing the piano for the residents and attending bible study with the residents and local pastor.   Violet was preceded in death by her husband Reuben, parents August and Katherine Schick, step-mother Amilia Dockter, 3 brothers; Walter, Floyd and an infant brother, 2 step-sisters Alice Hoffman & Lorraine Gilchrist and special friend Richard Larson.  Surviving family & Special Friends, half sister Marjorie Sonnek in Virginia, numerous nieces and nephews; special friends, Betty Nathan, Laurel Kukert and Curtis and Linda Mertz and family. Although Rueben & Violet did not have any children of their own, Curtis was always a very special person to them both. Curtis's children and grandchildren will always remember Violet, as "Grandma Violet" and she will be greatly missed.