Violet Strauss

Apr 20, 1934 -

Nov 15, 2020

Longtime Alaska resident Violet Strauss passed away on Nov. 15, 2020, in Anchorage, Alaska, after a long battle with COPD. She was born in Torrington, Wyo., in the middle of the Depression and, a few years later, the family moved to central California. She grew up in Stockton, where she went to school but was allowed to skip a grade and graduated from high school just after her 17th birthday. She met her future husband, Joe Saculla, at Delta College; their union lasted 30 years and produced three children. Over the years, she worked as an accountant, a career that she loved and which she continued to pursue after her move to Alaska in 1980.

Violet enjoyed bowling and in her prime her highest average was 183. In 1981, she was hired as Supervisor of the Anchorage Times accounting department, and she also wrote a weekly column for the paper titled "The Fast Lane," which covered the city's bowling news and individual achievements. She connected with the Executive Director of the Boys and Girls Club and together they organized the fund-raising bowling tournament, Bowl For Kid's Sake, which proved to be successful for many years.

In 1984, Violet and some friends met in Nairobi for an African safari, which was an exciting trip that she never forgot. She celebrated her 50th birthday at the Samburu Lodge where waiters serenaded her. When she told the story, she always ended it with, "Did you ever have 'Happy Birthday' sung to you in Swahili?" In 1996, Violet retired from a local engineering firm as their controller. She wintered in Arizona for the next 17 years, and spent most of her time playing bridge or out on the golf course.

Violet is survived by her three children, Michael (Patricia) Saculla, Ronald "Rocky" (Diana) Saculla and Karen (Robert) Niebert; three grandchildren, James Saculla, Richard Saculla and Alaina Bergstrom, their spouses, children and grandchildren; and her sisters, Luella Brown and Joi Irwin and their families. Her younger brother, David Seifert, preceded her in death. She also leaves behind many friends and bridge partners from the Anchorage Moose Lodge.

Due to concerns regarding COVID-19, memorial services are deferred until further notice. In lieu of flowers, Violet requested that donations are made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, stjude.org.