Viola Nellie Greenlee

Viola Nellie (Ruppert) Greenlee, age 92 of Columbia, MO, passed away on Thursday, June 19, 2025.

Vi (as she was known by many) was born December 26, 1932 in Quick, Nebraska to Clifford and Nellie (Boson) Ruppert. Vi attended grade school at District 101 which was located across the road from her parents’ home in rural McCook, Nebraska. She attended high school at the University of Nebraska School of Agriculture at Curtis, Nebraska.  She graduated from high school in 1950 with a Normal Teaching Degree. She began teaching rural school immediately. 

Vi was united in marriage to Jim Greenlee on November 18, 1953 at Quick, Nebraska in a candlelight ceremony. They were the parents of two sons, Douglas and Monte Ray. 

Vi followed Jim to Fort Sill, Arkansas while he served in the Army. They traveled extensively while Jim was in the service. After the service they lived in Oklahoma City, OK; Kearney, Hastings, and Norfolk, NE; South Carolina and finally residing in Missouri. While residing in Norfolk, Nebraska, Vi worked at Franc’s Beauty Shop as a beautician. While in Iberia, she was a waitress at the Howard Johnson’s at Lake of the Ozarks.

Vi was very involved throughout her life with several civic and local organizations; Students Wives Club in Kearney, NE; St. Anthony’s Sunshine Gals, St. Anthony, MO; Iberia Art Guild, Iberia, MO; local Blood Mobile in Missouri; local Senior Center, Columbia, MO to name a few. You could always find Vi somewhere playing bridge, a game she truly loved. Vi was an accomplished artist and many family members received her paintings.

Vi was a dedicated St. Louis Cardinals and Kansas City Chiefs fan. She loved to laugh and make others laugh. Her mottos were “Eat dessert first, preferably anything chocolate” and “You can never have too much coffee.” When it was time to say good-bye, she would always say “I’m so glad you got to see me.” 

Vi is preceded in death by her husband Jim, son Douglas and parents Clifford and Nellie; sisters Roberta Werkmeister and Norma Sorge; sister-in-law Bonnie Ruppert and brother-in-law Raymond Werkmeister. 

Survivors include son Monte Ray (North Carolina); granddaughter and care giver Jennifer (Matthew) Cowan (Columbia, MO); brother Otis Ruppert, (McCook, NE); sister Shirley (Larry) Schlem, (Ogallala, NE); brothers-in-law Roger (Phyllis) Sorge (Loveland, CO) and Truman (Lael) Greenlee, (Gothenburg, NE); sisters-in-law Nita Malleck (McCook, NE); Karen (Marion) Tatum (Lincoln, NE); and Ann Gilland (Redmond, OR), along with grandchildren, great grandchildren, cousins, nieces, and nephews.   

Private services will be held at a later date. Donations can be made to: 

The Columbia Senior Activity Center 

1121 Business Loop 70 East, Columbia, Missouri 65201