Violet Elaine Middleton

Age 97, of Lansing, Michigan, passed away September 11, 2024. She was born December 14, 1926, in Audubon, Minnesota, to Fred and Alene Kohler, and grew up on the family farm. A few days after her high school graduation, she boarded a train to California. While there, she worked at Mare Island where Violet worked in the paint department. Mare Island was a Naval ship base in WWII where ships were built, repaired and overhauled. She also met her husband, Herbert Middleton, while he was putting a song request through the jukebox. After multiple song requests and later talking over the phone, Herbert and Violet started dating. Shortly after, Herbert got transferred to Boston and Violet followed him. In Boston, she found a job at Old Colony Insurance Company. On December 13, 1952, Violet and Herbert got married in Mississippi. After almost a month of being married, Herbert was honorably discharged. They moved from Boston to Pensacola, Florida and then to Michigan to work for Motor Wheel.

In 1959, they started the adoption process to adopt their son, Gary. The adoption was finalized in 1960. For a period of time in the 1970s, she sold real estate and ran a ceramics business out of her basement. She was a woman of many talents! Violet was also a secretary for Hill High School where Gary attended. She ultimately retired from the State of Michigan. After retirement, she bought property in Arizona, where she met her longtime boyfriend, Bennie. Violet lived in Arizona until 1996 when she moved back to Michigan to be closer to Gary and her grandchildren. Also, in 1996 she converted to Catholicism and was confirmed at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Eaton Rapids and was a longtime member of St. Casimir Catholic Church in Lansing. She loved playing with her grandchildren, her dogs, bowling, traveling, riding her bike and gardening. One thing she wanted to pass on to her family was how to make the Scandinavian dish called Lefse.

She is survived by her son, Gary (Annette) Middleton; grandsons, Daniel (Hannah) Middleton and Andrew Middleton; and many nieces and nephew. She was preceded in death by her husband, Herbert Middleton; brothers, Gerald Kohler, Morris Kohler and Jim Kohler; and sister, Darlene Longtine.

The Funeral Liturgy will be celebrated at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 23, 2025, at the Estes-Leadley Greater Lansing Chapel, 325 W. Washtenaw St. with visitation one hour prior at the funeral home. To view the live stream of the service click the following link: Live Stream In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Capital Area Humane Society or the Greater Lansing Food Bank.