Viola D. McClain, 92, passed away on the afternoon of Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2016, at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center in Lewiston, as a result of injuries sustained from a fall three days earlier. Her immediate family was with her at the time of her passing.
Vi was born at the family home in Keuterville on July 28, 1924. She was the fifth child and first daughter of John B. and Katherine D. (Schmidt) Nuttman. As a young girl, her family always called her by nicknames "Girlie" or "Blondie."
Vi often told stories of growing up "on the prairie." In the summer, she loved chasing her brothers around the ranch, even though they considered her to be a pest. In the winter, the deep snow would cover the fences and she would ski and sled over the tops of them.
She graduated from St. Gertrude's Academy in 1942. Vi boarded at the school in the winters, since it was a three-mile walk from her house to the school. She sometimes rode her horse and at other times, she would hitchhike to school. As the only daughter, her father was very protective of her (he probably didn't know that she was hitchhiking). When she was 21, she went on a date and didn't get home until 5 a.m. Her father met her and the young man on the front porch and he cold-cocked the poor guy, who fell off the deck. She never went out with him again.
She and her mother would cook for the family and several ranch hands. Consequently, she was a very competent cook and baker. She passed these skills on to her youngest daughter.
After graduating from high school, Vi moved to Spokane and received an associate degree from Kinman Business School. She enjoyed telling stories about life during World War II. She would recall the blackouts in Spokane and meeting servicemen who were home on leave. Although she enjoyed Spokane, she moved to Lewiston, where she lived for the next 72 years.
Life in Lewiston was very lively in the 1940s. Since people didn't have television, they went out more. Downtown Lewiston had slot machines, but Vi was more inclined to hang out at Eddie's Malt Shop. In those days, everyone smoked cigarettes. But after the price of a pack of cigarettes went up to 16 cents, she would only smoke "O.P.'s" - that is: "other people's" cigarettes. As a result, she never smoked very much.
Vi was working as a bank teller in 1946 when she met Robert R. "Bob" McClain. They were married a year later, Oct. 27, 1947. They had a very active social life in the first years of their marriage. They had frequent dinner parties and they would often have friends over to play cards. They were also very involved with the Jaycees and enjoyed going to conventions around the West.
In 1953, Vi's first child, Robert John (Bobby), was born. She quit working in order to be a full-time mother. Her first daughter, Patricia, was born in 1955. And a very welcome accident joined them when Jeanie was born in 1957.
Vi was an active member of the Parent-Teacher Association as well as a Blue Bird leader and Cub Scout leader. In addition, she was a member of the Elks Lodge, Ladies of the Elks. She was a devout member of St. Stanislaus Catholic Church. After retirement, she volunteered as an usher for the Lewiston Civic Theatre and spent many hours visiting people in nursing homes.
The best time of her life was when her children were young. The worst time of her life was when her children were teenagers. Fortunately, they all grew up to be fairly decent adults.
Vi always had a garden and would say that her favorite vegetables were "lettuce turnip and pea." She loved canning and making homemade berry pies. She enjoyed hiking into the woods and picking huckleberries. She would frequently play board games with her children and grandchildren. She enjoyed movies and live theater, but she preferred reading books to watching TV.
When her youngest child was in junior high, Vi went to work at The Diamond Shop as office manager and she loved her time there. She retired early to stay home and baby-sit her grandchildren, who always say they spent as much time at her house as their own. She loved having children around her house.
She and her husband, Bob, started square dancing in their retirement. They also traveled frequently with road trips to Colorado, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and Utah. Vi enjoyed visiting national parks. They also thoroughly enjoyed going to Canada, Alaska and Branson, Mo., as well as New York City and New England in the fall. And they would head to the Oregon Coast on an annual basis.
Vi and Bob visited Great Britain, and Vi even kissed the Blarney Stone in Ireland. In 1992, they spent three months in New Zealand with their daughter, Jeanie, who was living there. They also visited Australia at that time. Vi also spent Christmas 1995 in New Zealand. She and her daughter, Patty, spent three weeks in Europe in 1999. Highlights of that trip included Paris, Rome and Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany. Vi was thrilled to see the Pope at the Vatican.
Vi was very proud of her German heritage. Her father was born in Germany and immigrated to the USA as a child. Vi was stubborn and quite feisty (typical German), but also friendly and well-known for her sense of humor.
Viola was preceded in death by her husband, Robert R. McClain; son Robert John McClain; parents John and Kate Nuttman; brothers John, Leo and Bernard; and infant sister Evelyn.
Viola is survived by her daughters, Patricia Urquhart (Tom) and Jeanie Stanton (Mark), all of Clarkston; her 98-year-old brother, Clarence (Frances) of Keuterville; sister-in-law Mary Cook (Joe) of Redding, Calif.; and grandchildren Angi Valliant, Brian Valliant (Molly), Joe McClain, Charlie McClain. She is also survived by stepgrandchildren Sean Urquhart (Kathy) and Marci Hines; and great-grandchildren Hailey and Daniel Jenkins, Lilly and Mayzie Viola McClain, and Keane, Maren and Alby Valliant; and stepgreat-grandchildren Madeline, Tyson and Chase Urquhart, and Thad and Ryan Hines. Vi also leaves behind many nieces and nephews as well as quite a few younger people who called her "Grandma."
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church in Lewiston. Burial will follow at Normal Hill Cemetery. A luncheon will follow the burial at the parish hall of St. Stanislaus. Malcom's Brower-Wann Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
The family suggests memorials to the Lewis-Clark Animal Shelter.
Service Information
- Date & Time
- Tuesday, September 6, 10:30 AM
- Location
-
St. Stanislaus Church
633 5th Avenue
Lewiston, Idaho 83501
Get Directions
Offer Condolences
Professional Service
✔ Since 1924
✔ Burial or Cremation Services
✔ Pre-Arranged Funeral Plans
✔ Web-Casting
✔ Modern Comfortable Facility
✔ Up-To-Date Audio/Video
Contact Information
1711 18th StreetLewiston, Idaho 83501
P: (208) 743-4578
F: (208) 743-9453
E-mail: malcoms@malcomsfuneralhome.com
The administrative offices are open Monday - Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday are by appointment only.
1711 18th Street