Violet Newton

Violet Virginia Newton Andersen passed away quietly on April 1, 2015. She was 92 years old. After discovering breast cancer and surviving the mastectomy surgery at the age of 90, there were complications from that cancer that claimed her in the end. In accordance with her deepest desires, she passed in her Salt Lake City, Utah home of more than 50 years, with little medical intervention and minimal discomfort.

Born in 1923 in Salt Lake City to Antone Andersen, a Danish immigrant and Hildur Erickson, a Swedish immigrant, Violet was the youngest of their 4 daughters. Her mother Hildur and sister Ester both passed when Violet was very young. Her father married Alma, another Swedish immigrant woman who became the mother Violet knew and loved dearly. Violet’s 2 older sisters, Ann (Alvord) and Evelyn (Johnson), both preceded Violet in death.

Violet spent her lifetime in Salt Lake building her family legacy. In 1941, she married Douglas Gerald Newton, who preceded her in death in 1988. Together they had 5 children: Jeri Lynn (Tiffany), Janice Lee (Wagaman), Judy Layne (Palmer), Jill Lynette (Leatham) and Steven Douglas. Jeri and Jill both preceded Violet in death. The loss of both before their time had a deeply profound effect on the entire family. Violet is survived by Janice, Judy and Steven, 14 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren, 6 great great-grandchildren.

As is true with all the women from the Last Great Generation, Violet was a strong and stoic woman, yet simple and uncomplicated. She married her first true love right out of high school and remained married and in love with him to the end of her life, despite his much earlier demise. She bore and raised 5 children in trying and humbling times and surroundings showing nothing but love, happiness and thankfulness for the bounty of her life. And when needed, she happily stepped in to help raise her first three grandchildren, all of whom love and cherish her as deeply as their own mother and whom she loved and cherished as her own children. With her husband, she “built” and managed a warm family home, full of love, strong, simple morals and values, historic traditions, Christian beliefs, home cooked meals and treats, lots of hugs and a trusting open door policy to anyone who crossed her threshold. “Make yourself at home” was her standard greeting to all who entered.

Throughout her life, Violet enjoyed gardening, especially with flowers. This love of nature’s beauty was inspired and instilled in her from her father Anton, who was for much of her young life, the head grounds keeper at Westminster College. Much later in life, her parents Anton and Alma, bought the home directly across the street from the Newton family home. This enabled Violet and her father to enjoy their love of flowers and gardening even more, working side by side in their yards, growing their specialty plants from seeds or bulbs and sharing from one yard to the other. Violet never lost this love of nature although physically she has been unable to perform the yard work she loved so much for more than a decade. In her final years she enjoyed her yard from her patio or from the occasional assisted stroll in the back yard.

Healthy and disease-free her entire life until a mere 6 years ago when her aging body began slowing down considerably, Violet lived alone and was self-sufficient until just 8 weeks ago when it became no longer possible for her to do so safely. Though she required some assistance along the way, her independence was always of utmost importance to her. Family and friends indulged this desire to the best of their abilities allowing her to live and finally leave this life in the manner most important to her, with dignity.

Per Violets request, there will only be a short Graveside service:

Monday April 6th, 11:00AM

Wasatch Lawn and Mortuary

3401 Highland Dr. Rosemont section

Salt Lake City, Utah 84106

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to any Breast Cancer Foundation of your choice.