Marie Sophia Viktora was born on December 13, 1910 to Charles and Sophia (Wagner) Humpal in the hills of Nebraska, not far from Fairfax, SD. She was the eldest in a family seven children with two brothers and four sisters. In 1912 her folks moved the family to South Dakota where she lived most of her life. She attended a number of rural schools and received an eighth grade Graduation Diploma.

On August 16, 1933 she was united in marriage to John A. Viktora at St. Anthonys Church in Fairfax. Three sons and one daughter were born to them. One son, Joseph, died in infancy; Robert of Fairfax and Hot Springs; Marilyn died at the age of ten; and Leo of St. Paul, Minnesota.

A devote Roman Catholic, Marie was a lifelong member of St. Anthonys Church along with serving Immaculate Conception in Bonesteel and recently Sts. Peter & Paul in Butte, Nebraska. She taught religion classes, did sacristan work, housekeeping for the priests and made hundreds of rosaries for the missions. She also started a Lady of Fatima Rosary Club while in Bonesteel with Fr. ODowd.

Marie thoroughly enjoyed her life with John farming/ranching, working side by side with him when two were needed, shed say. She also enjoyed arts and crafts, in particular sewing and crocheting. She was always working on a new project or teaching the younger generation these lost crafts.

Marie and John moved from the farm to Hopkins, Minnesota in December 1991. They resided there until October 1994 when they moved to Butte, Nebraska. There Marie lived in an apartment across from the Nursing Home where John stayed. Every morning shed walk up to the home to visit and care for John as best she could; she spent everyday with him.

After John died in January 1996, Marie continued to enjoy visits with friends and family, but she especially treasured watching her grandchildren grow. They visited as often as possible and she heard of their school accomplishments, saw them graduate from college and even traveled to St. Paul, MN to be at the eldest granddaughters wedding. Always the worker, Marie continued to volunteer for the Nursing Home by sewing new items and mending others. She also laundered and made new linen items for the Catholic parish in Butte.

In 2005, Marie needed to move into assisted living, a wing that had recently been built on to the Butte Nursing Home. In July of that same year she welcomed her first great-grandson, Christopher. Maries grandchildren and great-grandson were her pride and joy. At her assisted living residence she celebrated her 95th birthday with family and friends in December 2005. In spring of 2006, after Marie fell and broke a hip, she transitioned to the Nursing Home. Marie died quietly on March 29, 2007 at the Gregory Hospital where she had been admitted just a few days earlier to receive treatment for pneumonia.

She will be sadly missed by her family and all who knew her. In life, Marie deeply appreciated her family for the many years of help, care, and support she received.

Marie is survived by her two sons, Robert and wife, Deanna; Leo and wife, Jan; her three grandchildren, Kristina and husband, John Viktora-Croke, Elizabeth and Vanessa Viktora; her great-grandson, Christopher Viktora-Croke; her brothers, Marvin and Loren Humpal; her sisters Pat Koenig and Dolores Clark; her many nieces and nephews and a host of other relatives and friends.

Marie was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, John; and her two sisters, Caroline Anderson and Ida Koenig.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, April 2, 2007 at 10:30 AM at St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Fairfax. Burial will be at a later date. There will be a rosary on Sunday at 7:00 PM at the church.