Viola H. Nolan was born on January 28, 1908, in Story City, Iowa the daughter of Henry and Emilie (Wiese) Henryson. She was a graduate of Central High School in Minneapolis and MacPhail School of Music. She was a piano performer/teacher for 65 years in Hibbing, Minnesota, Oak Park, Illinois and lastly, Minneapolis. She was a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Minneapolis, Sigma Alpha Iota Music Sorority and the Thursday Musical. Viola died on Monday, October 6, 2008, at St. Brigid's at High Park in Red Wing, Minnesota at the age of 100 years, 8 months and 8 days.
Preceded in death by her husband, Ray Nolan, her survivors include a step-daughter, Marjorie Anderson of Arizona; 3 step-grandchildren; 4 nieces and 4 nephews and their children.