Violet was born Pauline Hollis on November 24, 1934, to Harold C. and Rosa Pauline (Daugherty/Galloup) Hollis on the Hollis Homestead southwest of Delphos, Kansas. She passed away Sunday, May 17, 2026.
Shortly after her birth, her father began calling her “his little Violet,” as her eyes were a bright blue-violet color, and the name stayed with her for the rest of her life. She attended Cedar Grove country school before continuing her education at Delphos Grade School and graduating from Delphos High School with the Class of 1952.
On November 13, 1952, Violet married her childhood sweetheart and classmate, Leon Gehrke, at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church in Manhattan, Kansas, while both were attending K-State. They settled on a farm southeast of Delphos where they raised their four children.
In 1963 the family moved to Main Street in Delphos, where they continued farming and operated Gehrke Truck Line. After Leon passed away in 2003, Violet built what she lovingly called “her little Grandma house” next door to her daughter Kay in Minneapolis, Kansas, in December 2004.
Violet was a devoted farm wife and stay-at-home mother in her early years, helping with the farming, raising chickens, tending her garden, and doing the evening milking a skill she had learned as a young girl. She was active in her community throughout her life, serving as a grade school and high school cheerleader, playing cornet in the school band, and performing as a majorette during football games. Even after marriage, she played baseball with other young mothers against neighboring towns.
Her faith was a cornerstone of her life. Violet was baptized in the First Presbyterian Church in Delphos on April 6, 1947, sang in the church choir, and carried a love of scripture and song throughout her life.
Violet was a proud member of the Delphos Rebekah Lodge for over 25 years, serving as Past Noble Grand and having the honor of pinning her own mother for 50 years of membership. She was also a founding spirit of the Young Matrons Club, a group of young mothers who enjoyed card nights and community parades.
In 1965 Violet began working as a bookkeeper at the Delphos Co-op, later serving as school secretary at the Delphos Attendance Center, and ultimately retiring after a decade as bookkeeper at G & G Hog Co. Outside of work, Violet found joy in tending her yard from spring to fall, oil painting with her favorite works being portraits of two of her granddaughters, fishing, and traveling across the country in the fifth wheel. Her grandchildren were, in her own words, her most precious treasures.
Violet touched the lives of everyone fortunate enough to know her. Her warmth, her laugh, her love of family, and her quiet strength will be remembered by all who were blessed to call her mother, funny grandma, great grandma, aunt, and friend.
Survivors include children Sherry Walton, Kenneth (Eva) Gehrke, and Kay Bronson; grandchildren Shane (Amanda) Walton, Scott (Maya Coleman) Walton, Shanielle (Clint) Wenzl, Seth (Naomi) Walton, Telisha (Tim Wilcox) Gehrke, Kacey (Cole) Windhorst, Kenneth “Hutch” Gehrke, Nakia (Justin) Long; along with numerous great-grandchildren, one great-great grandchild, nieces, and nephews.
Preceding her in death were son Ryan Gehrke, son in laws Steve Walton and Jack Bronson, grandson Chase Hires, and great grandchild Adeline Walton.
Graveside services will be at 3:00 P.M., Saturday, May 23 in the Delphos Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Delphos Museum and may be left in care of Wilson Family Funeral Home, P.O. Box 166, Minneapolis, KS 67467.