Myrna Viney

STOUGHTON - Myrna Mae (Graffin) Viney, of Stoughton, passed away peacefully on Wednesday April 1, 2026, after a battle with dementia. She was born on January 21, 1935, in Cottage Grove, Wis., to Milo H. and Merlyn L. (Emerson) Graffin. The eldest of four children, Myrna grew up surrounded by the love-and lively energy-of her three younger brothers.

Myrna met the love of her life, Paul Joseph Viney Jr., while dancing at Turner Hall in Madison, introduced by her sister-in-law, Marybelle (Viney) Helgestad. They were married on July 9, 1955, at McFarland Lutheran Church, where they remained lifelong members. Their early years took them from Cottage Grove to Belleville before they settled in McFarland, the community they called home for 50 years. Together, they raised three children, Debra, Donald, and Dennis.

Raised on the family farm in Deerfield, Myrna graduated from Stoughton High School in 1952. She was active in 4-H throughout the Madison area and was always ready to lend a hand with farm chores. After high school, she attended Madison Business College and began her career at Madison Gas and Electric. She later joined the State of Wisconsin in the Department of Industry, Labor and Human Relations (now the Department of Workforce Development), retiring alongside Paul in 1996 after 32 years of dedicated service.

Myrna and Paul shared a love of travel, especially bus trips to Northern Wisconsin casinos and destinations across the United States-reaching as far as Niagara Falls and New York City. They made memorable trips to Branson, Mo., to enjoy their favorite country musicians. Their most cherished adventure was attending the 1994 Rose Bowl in Pasadena, where they watched the Wisconsin Badgers bring home the trophy. As longtime Badgers football season ticket holders-more than 20 years-Myrna cheered with unmatched enthusiasm for the Badgers, Packers, and Brewers. In their younger years, Myrna and Paul enjoyed snowmobiling on Southern Wisconsin trails with many close friends and family. They were loyal patrons of Southern Wisconsin supper clubs, with the Maple Tree Supper Club and Toby’s in McFarland holding a special place in their hearts.

Myrna is survived by her three children, Debra Mae (Dick Walters) Viney, Donald Paul (Marilyn) Viney, and Dennis (Kami) Viney; five grandchildren, Daniel (Laura) Viney, Jason Viney, Kaia (Steven Rocus) Viney, Kayla Viney, and Kelci Viney; seven great-grandchildren, Drew and Addison Viney, Aliyah, Harvey and Hadley Viney, Ella Viney and Khloe Viney; step grandchildren, Dustin James Walters, Scott Eric Walters and Leah Ann Thatcher (Tom Thatcher); her brother, Gerald Graffin; brother and sister-in-law, Floyd (Charlotte) Viney; and sisters-in-law, Ruth Viney, Marybelle Helgestad, and Elaine Worringer. She was preceded in death by her husband, Paul; her parents, Merlyn and Milo; and her brothers, James and Merton.

A funeral service will be held at MCFARLAND LUTHERAN CHURCH, 5529 Marsh Road, McFarland, at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, April 8, 2026. Burial will take place at Highland Memory Gardens in Cottage Grove. Visitation will be held at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of the service on Wednesday.
 

The family extends a heartfelt thank-you to Brian and the SSM Hospice Care team for their compassionate care and support during Myrna’s final months. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

Gunderson Stoughton
Funeral & Cremation Care
1358 Highway 51 N. at Jackson St.
(608) 873-4590