Violet Emma Befus

The beautiful life that started on the Canadian prairie, ended Sunday in the Carolina piedmont. Violet Emma Stelter Befus left this life Jan. 18, 2015 at Salemtowne Retirement Community in Winston Salem. Vi was born May 14, 1921 in Lamont, Alberta, Canada to Fred and Emma Stelter. The odyssey of her life would have her live in western Canada, Nicaragua, Central America, and Pennsylvania and North Carolina. After becoming a Registered Nurse in Alberta, Canada, she married the late Rev. John Befus and joined him in his ministry in the jungles of Nicaragua. There the 21 yr. old wife and nurse became a teacher, organist and a full partner in the work in Moravian missions. Soon she would demonstrate what was to become her signature life philosophy, “Bloom where you are planted”. Vi and John served in the mountains of La Luz, the jungle river village of Bilwaskarma, and the coastal town of Puerto Cabezas during their 25 years in Nicaragua. While there Vi learned two new languages and somehow found the time to home-school her children, lead choirs, and Bible classes, organize the youth groups and counsel young women, all the while learning to love this country, food and culture as her own. Returning to Canada, she and Rev. Befus served congregations in Alberta and British Columbia before serving in Philadelphia and finally at Fries Memorial Moravian Church in Winston Salem, where she remained a member. In 2000 they moved to Salemtowne Retirement Community where she has lived and found ways to continue to “Bloom where she was planted”. Here, her participation in ministry and worship and her cheerful contributions to fellow residents and staff are a lasting legacy.

She is survived by three children; Ruth and husband John Snyder of Charlotte, Gerry Befus and wife Debbie Allgood, and Tim Befus, all of Winston Salem. She has six grandchildren; Rick Snyder, Randy Snyder, Greg Snyder, Eva Mullinax, Deanna Befus, Michelle Befus, as well as eight great grandchildren. Her contribution to and influence on their lives will be timeless.

A graveside service will take place at God's Acre on Saturday at 1:00 pm; A memorial service will be held at Salemtowne Retirement Community, Saal Auditorium, Saturday at 3:00 pm, with chaplain Linda Browne, presiding.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to: The Salemtowne Endowment Fund for Financial Assistance, 190 Moravian Way Dr., Winston Salem, N.C. 27106 or Changed Choices Inc., PO Box 78614, Charlotte, NC, 28271 or the King Moravian Church Music Fund, 234 West Dalton Rd. King, N.C. 27021.