Veiona Fiala

Veiona “Vi” Fiala, 87, of Scribner, died Monday, September 16, 2024 at Franciscan Healthcare in West Point.  Funeral Service will be 11:00am on Saturday, September 21 at Grace Lutheran Church in West Point with Rev. Priscilla Hukki officiating.  Lunch will follow at the church hall with burial at a later date.  Visitation will be Friday from 5:00pm to 7:00pm at Stokely Funeral Home in West Point.  Memorials may be made to Grace Lutheran Church. Arrangements by Stokely Funeral Home.

Vi was born on February 27, 1937, to William and Ottilia (Morlock) Bier in Gackle, North Dakota. She was one of six children, growing up with her siblings Albert, Doris, Marvin, Darlene, and Roger William. Vi was the last surviving sibling. Tragically, in 1942, Vi’s parents were killed in an automobile accident, leaving the young children to be raised by extended family. While her siblings went to live with aunts and uncles, Vi and her youngest brother, Roger William, were taken in by their grandparents, the Morlocks.

When Vi was about 11 years old, Fred and Verda Thietje from West Point, Nebraska, who did business with her grandfather, took Vi and her brother into their home and raised them as their own. Vi attended West Point schools and was confirmed at Grace Lutheran Church.

Vi first married Norman Sterling, and together they had two children, Roxanne and Frederick. After their divorce, Vi attended Bonner’s Beauty School and pursued her passion for hairstyling, running a successful beauty business in Howell from 1963 to 1972, a profession she truly loved.

In 1972, Vi married Dan Fiala, whose career in the Air Force would take them on many adventures. They moved to Hampton, Virginia, shortly after their marriage, where Vi worked at a beauty salon near Langley Air Force Base. In 1975, the couple was stationed in Berlin, Germany, and then Bitburg, Germany, where they completed their tour. During this time, Vi and Dan developed a love for travel and explored extensively throughout Europe.

From 1978 to 1980, they were stationed at Griffiss Air Force Base in Rome, New York, where Vi drove a school bus for local children. After Dan’s retirement from the Air Force in 1980, they moved to Bellevue, Nebraska. There, Vi continued driving school buses for the Bellevue public schools and was later promoted to assistant manager of the Bellevue printing office, which handled all publications for the school district.

In 1983, Vi was honored with the Secretary’s Award from the Cornhusker Chapter of the Non-Commissioned Officers Association (NCOA). She was also a lifetime member of the auxiliary division of the NCOA, reflecting her dedication to the military community.

In 1987, Dan’s career took them to El Paso, Texas, where he worked at Fort Bliss. In 1995, Vi and Dan returned to Nebraska to help care for their mothers. They became active members of Grace Lutheran Church in West Point, where Vi found joy in her faith and community.

Vi had many passions in life. She loved gardening, horseback riding, and frequenting thrift stores. Known for her positive outlook, Vi encouraged others to remain optimistic, believing that a positive attitude was good for the heart. Above all, she cherished her family and embraced life with joy and gratitude.

Vi is survived by her husband, Dan; children, Roxanne Sterling Sindelar and Frederick James Sterling; grandchildren, Alicia, Christopher, Justin, Gabriel and Taylor; 5 great grandchildren; sister-in-law, Linda; and nieces and nephews.