Violet Plonty

Violet (Shovelin) Plonty was born on May 14, 1935 to Lena and Frank Shovelin in Glencoe, MN. She was the third girl for Frank and Lena who went on to have 5 more girls and 3 boys. Violet passed away in Hospice at Aurora, Edina, MN on August 26, 2020.

Violet graduated from Stephens Seminary, Glencoe High School in 1953. She and a friend adventured to California for a short period of time and then returned to Minnesota.

Monarch Life Insurance was Violet’s place of employment as their Office Manager where she flourished and felt very appreciated. During her time there she made many friends within the office and outside agents.

Violet married Larry Plonty in 1976 and they made their home in Bloomington, MN. Violet loved sports and her first love was golf. She played as often as she could, making and keeping lifelong friendships as she continued to golf. She even had the much dreamed of “Hole in One”! In her later years she traveled to Arizona to play in the winter. Water was Violet’s next love and she stayed fit enjoying Water Aerobics (attending 2 classes in the morning) with many of her friends. She enjoyed her family and friends and cherished the albums of the fun times she had with them.

Violet and Larry also had a cabin in Hackensack, MN along with a miniature golf course. They enjoyed many summers there and often referred to it as “God’s Country”. They also loved to travel both in and outside the US. She kept many pictures to remember their wonderful times together.

At the age of 85 Violet was still receiving the Glencoe Chronicle so she could keep up with what was going on in her hometown. She was an avid news and sports follower. It was not unusual for her to yell at the TV when someone did not make what she thought was an obvious play. Violet expected everyone to be watching what she was and often made a phone call to say, “Are you watching (whatever sport it was), did you see that play?” Sometimes we would just say “yes” to keep things smooth.

Violet is survived by her sisters: Marietta Steck, Joyce Graunke, Lillian (Dave) Selnes, Diana Boland, Ruth Ann (Doug) Richter; her brothers, Wayne (Julie) Shovelin, David (Betty Aase) Shovelin; and brother-in-law, Mel Ziebarth. Coming from a large family, Violet has many loving nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, and numerous friends she’s leaving behind.

Violet was preceded in death by her husband, Larry Plonty; parents, Frank and Lena Shovelin; sisters, Joan Ziebarth and Rosemary McEachran; brother, John Shovelin; brothers-in-law: Delphon Graunke, Gerry Boland and John Steck.

Visitation will be at 11:00 AM, service at 11:30 on Tuesday, Sept. 1, at Kline Funeral Home, Pine River, MN. Burial will follow at Hillcrest Cemetery, Hackensack, MN.