Dateline: Ness City, Kansas

Viola Vivian Grumbein, age 101, passed away March 2, 2011 at Cedar Village Long Term Care, Ness City, Kansas. She was born on October 4, 1909 in Ness City the daughter of Herman and Rose Smith Mellies. She grew up on a farm southwest of Ness City and spent all of her life in Ness County. She was a homemaker, a member of the First Baptist Church and the Sunshine Club both of Ness City . On October 4, 1930 she married Ralph Grumbein in Ness City. To this union was born one daughter and two sons. Ralph preceded her in death on July 16, 1988.

She is survived by two sons, Albert (Mary), Denton, Texas and Eldon (Debbie), Lee's Summit, Missouri; daughter, Valdah Tittel (Leonhard), Porter, Texas, five grandchildren, one step grandson, 5 great-grandchildren, one step great-granddaughter, and two great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by nine brothers: Elmer, Lee, Leslie, Albert, Harold, Glenn, Ray, Ralph, and Wayne Mellies and two sisters: Lola Reidel and Marie Sloan.

Viewing will be from 9am – 2pm and 3pm - 9pm Sunday at Fitzgerald Funeral Home, Ness City. Memorial Service will be Sunday, March 6, 2011, 2:30 PM at Cedar Village Long Term Care, Ness City with Reverend Russell King presiding. Committal service and burial in the Ness City Cemetery. In Lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be given to the First Baptist Church or the Ness County Historical Society.