Elva Viken, of Beltrami, MN, 96, died Friday, July 22, 2016, at The Commons On Marice Assisted Living in Eagan, MN, due to renal failure.

Elva Alice McQueen Nelson was born Feb 28, 1920, in Lockhart, MN, to Avery and Ada (Clayton) McQueen. Elva graduated from Beltrami High School in 1938, named as the class poet. In 1940, she married Harold Helweg and they made their home in Beltrami, welcoming their beloved only child, Sharon into the world in 1941. In 1976, Harold passed away and in 1979, Elva married George Viken. Elva is best known for her giggle, ready smile and playful, caring spirit. But she was also a wordsmith, an avid MN Twins fan and lover of adventure and travel both written and experienced. Elva was a member of the Fair Meadow Guild, Quilting club, Beltrami Garden Club and Birthday club. Additionally, she enjoyed to volunteer as a classroom grandmother at the Fertile-Beltrami School. Throughout the years, Elva also worked as a cook at the Beltrami schools, as a florist, as an interviewer for the Star Tribune and as a Sarah Coventry sales rep, alongside helping to manage the Helweg farm.

Elva is survived by her daughter, Sharon (Robert) Casselman, St Paul, MN; two grandchildren, Megan (Rick) Casselman-Condon and Chad (Kate) Casselman; 7 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Helen Poppler, Fosston, MN, and Glenna (Bill) Rainy, Edmonds, WA; one brother, Dale (Carol) McQueen of Idaho; sister-in-law, Halley McQueen. Elva is preceded in death by her spouses, George Viken and Harold Helweg, mother, Ada Nelson; father, Avery McQueen, step-father, Albert Nelson, sister, Donna Sipe, infant brother, James McQueen, brother, Jim McQueen, and brothers-in-law, AllenSipe and JessiePoppler.

Funeral Services will be held at Faith United Methodist Church, Ada, MN at 2 pm Saturday, August 6 followed by a luncheon at the church; afterward, a graveside service will be held at Fairview-Beltrami Cemetery at 4 pm.