What makes a volunteer step up to the plate, not just once, but time and time again?
Ask Violet Christianson, one of Rimbey’s dedicated long time volunteers, and she will tell you.
“They needed some people to help out and I just did whatever came up.”
Christianson, who has now gracefully slipped away from many of her volunteer duties, is still active in the Rimbey Legion, plays the piano at Parkland Manor and helps out at her church.
“I like to be busy,” she said. “I don’t like to sit around doing nothing.”
Multitasking is not a new word for the vivacious senior, who admits to doing a huge crossword puzzle while watching television. She is also an active floor curler and enjoys the game and visiting with other seniors at Rimbey Drop In Centre.
“I know a lot of people at the Drop In,” she said. “I do have a lot of friends.”
Attracting friends is easy for Christianson, whose friendly smile and cheerful demeanor has not diminished over time.
“I have never seen her without a smile,” said Carolynne Jensen from Rimbey FCSS. “She has a warm personality, empathy for others and always has a smile and a greeting for everyone.”
Christianson, who was nominated for the Minister’s Seniors Service Award last year along with Gladys Johnson, has lived in the area for many years. She and her late husband Bruce raised their three children, Keith, Karen and Wendy southwest of Rimbey on Hwy. 766. She said the highway was a dirt road when they moved in.
When her husband passed away in 2008, Christianson rented the farm out. She has lived in town for several years.
Despite a busy life as a wife and mother, as well as an employee of Rimbey Co-op, Christianson gave freely of her time as one of the community’s long serving volunteers.
She served on the FCSS board of directors for many years and was one of the founding members that formed the Rimbey Home Help Services which delivers home support, home care, meals on wheels, medical alert and volunteer visiting and transportation.
She also volunteered with FCSS helping out with seniors information and referral services and completing income tax forms.
“I enjoyed doing the income tax,” she said. “I met a lot of people and was able to help them out.”
When she was not busy volunteering in some other capacity, she was playing the piano or giving music lessons.
Jensen said her volunteer work is very much missed at FCSS.
“She’s been a tireless volunteer for more than 30 years. She has a natural common sense to handling life’s circumstances and she has a smile and a warmth about her that makes everyone feel comfortable.”
Christianson has two grandchildren, Richard and Lisa and one great-granddaughter, Mikayla.