Viola Marie Warkentin was born May 3, 1921 to Henry J. and Bertha Warkentin.  She grew up on a farm southeast of Meade, Kansas with her brother Albert and two sisters Ruby and Edna.

During her growing up years, Viola taught Vacation Bible School in Dodge City, Kansas.  This is when Mr. & Mrs. Jake Z. Friesen started supporting her financially, they continued to be part of Viola's support team throughout her years of missionary service.

Viola attended Tabor College, receiving her teaching certificate. She then returned to Meade to teach for two years in the "Settlement."  Following this she attended Grace Bible Institute in Omaha, NE, graduating in1948. Viola also attended 3 terms of Summer Institute of Linguistics in Norman, Oklahoma.  She taught at Rio Grande Bible Institute and at a Christian Day School in South Texas.

In 1951 Viola was accepted by Wycliffe Bible Translators and assigned to southern Mexico in the state of Chiapas.  At first, she worked mostly in the literacy programs and translation work of the Bible.  The two Ch'ol dialects she worked with most were Tumbalá and Tila.  During this time Ruby Scott teamed up with Viola to complete the Tila Ch'ol New Testament which was dedicated in 1976.  Later Viola edited technical journals for linguists worldwide. Viola served with Wycliffe Bible Translators a total of 43 years before retirement.

Viola wrote of her ministry: "Among the Tumbalá Indians, we realized that it was impossible to reach and teach all who were eager to learn to read.  The answer:  Prepare teacher-training material and train good new readers to become teachers.  The program was successful and produced several very good teachers.  Several days walk away from the Tumbalá Indians were the Tila who were reported to be very wicked.  We moved to the Tila area and began the slow, painstaking task of analyzing the language and translating the New Testament."

Seventeen years later the work culminated with several thousand Tilo believers with New Testaments in their hands and God's Word in their hearts.

Viola married Jake Z. Friesen December 1, 1990.  They enjoyed teaching a Bible class at the Lone Tree Retirement Center for many years, where they later retired.  She and Jake Z. also helped with Meals on Wheels in Meade.  Chuck Wagon restaurant was their place on Saturday morning for breakfast with his brother, Abe Z. Friesen.  In the spring of 2013, they moved to the Lone Tree Retirement Center.  Jake Z. Friesen passed on to his reward on September 10, 2018.

Viola was preceded in death by her husband, Jake's son Wesley J, her parents, her three siblings, and four nieces and nephews. She is survived by her late husband's sons: Norman J. and Vernon J., 11 nieces and nephews and their families.

Memorials may be given to Countryside Bible Church, Rio Grande Bible Institute, or Wycliffe Bible Translators in care of the Fidler - Orme - Bachman Mortuary in Meade. A private family graveside service will be held Wednesday, December 30, 2020.