Violet Mae Eckhardt

On July 12, 2018, Violet Mae Eckhardt peacefully passed away in her sleep. She was born to Mabel and Henry August Gabel on April 16, 1930 in Fairview, Montana and grew up and went to school in the Huntley area. After meeting the love of her life, she married Robert Theodore “Bob” Eckhardt on June 27, 1948 in Billings, Montana.

Violet and Bob had a wonderful life filled with family, travel, polka dancing, fishing, and playing cards. Trips included watching their son Gene play baseball, reuniting with Bob’s Navy buddies from the US Sperry, and family trips to Oklahoma and Las Vegas Nevada. Violet loved to put puzzles together, collect salt and pepper shakers, invest and collect different types of coins, plus she enjoyed cooking German foods, growing roses, making Christmas decorations and ceramics. Everyone will miss Violet’s tasty Christmas German fry bread and pastries!

Violet is survived by her son Gene Eckhardt( Dawn), grandsons Colin Stevick (Julia) and Chad Eckhardt (Jennifer), godson Duane Schreiner (Diane), goddaughter Kathe Gabel (Wade Steinmetz), brothers Larry Gabel (Beverly) in Oklahoma, Henry Gabel Jr. “Buck” in Missoula, Gerald Gabel (Orlena) in Huntley, and Alvin Gabel (Mary Lou) in California, and sisters Margie Herman and Annabelle Schreiner (Reynold) from Laurel, MT, 4 great grandchildren, Becca, Rachel, Caitlin and Marisa, plus several nephews, nieces, and sister and brother in-laws. She was preceded in death by her husband Bob, her parents, sisters Esther, Dorothy, and Alvina, plus brothers Harold, Roy, and Coney.

Many thanks are extended to family and friends who visited Violet at Butterfly Homes (Assisted Living) during the last two years of her life. She thoroughly enjoyed the visits. Special gratitude is also extended to Janet, Mindy, and all Butterfly staff for their personal and loving care, as well as the Compassus (Hospice) staff who professionally attended to Violet’s needs. Her family will be forever grateful.

Visitation will be 5-7pm Thursday. Funeral services will be 10am Friday at Michelotti-Sawyers Mortuary with interment in Mountview Cemetery.