Vivian A. Kiefer

Vivian A. (Lind) Kiefer, 95 most recently of Devils Lake and formerly of Warwick, ND passed away on Wednesday, April 5, 2006 at Heartland Care Center, Devils Lake. Funeral Services for Vivian will be held on Monday, April 10, 2006 at 11:00 a.m. at the Warwick Lutheran Church, Warwick. Rev. David Nichols will officiate and burial will be in the Warwick Cemetery. Friends may call at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake on Sunday from 1:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. with a Prayer Service at 7:00 p.m. Visitation on Monday will be at the church one hour prior to the funeral service. Serving as Casket Bearers for Vivian will be Christopher “Kit” Kiefer, Kari Kiefer, Sandra Barber, Terry Smith, Lucus Smith, Laura Smith and Elizabeth Smith. Music will be provided by Sarah Smith, Soloist and Ellen Burthold, Organist Vivian was born in Warwick on January 24, 1911 to Carl Emil and Burtine (Lee) Lind. She attended school in Tolna for six years. After Carl’s death in 1921, she, three siblings and Burtine moved to Hamar for one year and then to Warwick where she assisted Burtine as telephone operator for many years. Vivian graduated from Warwick High School, attended Dakota Business College in Fargo and worked three years at the bank in Edmore. She was united in marriage to Donovan Keifer in 1933 at which time they returned to the Warwick area. During the next 22 years, they welcomed seven children. Vivian enjoyed working in the Warwick Lutheran Church, where she was baptized and confirmed, as organist, treasurer and active member of the Ladies Aid. She served as treasurer and clerk of the Warwick School District and was employed as school secretary for two years. Following Don’s death in 1970, she relocated to Grand Meadow, Minnesota with her youngest daughter, Tamara, secured office work with the Academy of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology in Rochester and retired at 65. She then worked part time at the Grand Meadow Bank, retiring at 76. In 1990, she moved to Winona, Minnesota, thoroughly enjoying the group activity of making quilt tops for church charities until she moved to Devils Lake in 2001. She had always dreamed of spending winters in Arizona and fulfilled that wish from age 84 to 87. Vivian loved to travel, toured America whenever possible, enjoyed International trips, formed new friendships wherever she went and cherished lifelong relationships with relatives and countless friends. She had a zest for life, loved to keep very active and involved with others and took much pride in both the accomplishments and growth in numbers of her descendants. When she was in the position to do so, she initiated education trusts for her youngest grandchildren and at the birth of her great grandchildren. She is survived by five daughters, Donna O’Meara of Vancouver, Washington Marilyn (Jim) Hatlestad of Warwick Linda (Ted) Spence of Portland, Oregon Julie (Jay) Kiefer-Bell of DeKalb, Illinois Tamara (Gene) Stevens of Altura, Minnesota Son: Kevin Kiefer of New Brighton, Minnesota Eleven Grandchildren Nineteen Great Grandchildren Two Great Great Grandchildren] Sister: Ruth Sween of Apple Valley, Minnesota Many Nieces and Nephews Vivian was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Donovan; a daughter, Pamela; brothers, Irwin and Vincent; grandson, Kelly; sister-in-law, Gen Holten. Memorials may be directed to the Warwick Lutheran Church.