Vivian Emma Agnes (Berg) Holter, daughter of August and Olga (Stuerman) Berg, was born April 6, 1917 at Alvord, Iowa. She was baptized and attended the Lutheran Church in Alvord and was later confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church in Estelline. The family left Iowa in 1925 in a Columbia car with side curtains and moved to a farm near Estelline in the Hidewood Hills. Their furniture and livestock came by train. She attended grade school in Grange Township District #28.
She met her husband, Norman Holter at Toronto in 1937, at which time she was working at a store in Salem, SD, and after meeting Norman she left Salem and didn’t go back. They were married on April 5, 1938 and they lived with Adolph and Cece Holter for five months until they got a house of their own. A short time later they moved to a farm northeast of Bruce where they lived until they retired and moved into Estelline in 1981. Norman passed away on March 21, 1996 and she stayed in her home in Estelline until her health required her to move into an assisted living, first in Castlewood for the winters and later full-time at Edgewood Vista in Brookings. After a fall she was transferred to Brookview Manor, The Neighborhoods nursing home where she passed away on Friday, June 5, 2015 at the age of 98 years.
During her life, she was active in St. Petri Lutheran and later Grace Lutheran of Bruce, attending Circle, Bible Study, Ladies Aid and other church related activities. She also was a member of the Sons of Norway (even though she was German) and TOPS Club. She enjoyed the numerous activities in the Assisted Living and Nursing Home, especially the various church activities, bingo and musical programs. Vivian did beautiful Rosemaling, embroidery and made quilts. She was an excellent baker especially made good homemade buns and even lefse and rosettes (even if she was German). She embroidered many sets of dish towels for kids and grandkids. Vivian was always willing to help out when needed whether babysitting grandkids or just helping out. She loved flowers, gardening, Dairy Queen ice cream and chocolate.
She is survived by her children, Darvin (Terri) Holter and Bonnie (John) Top, all of Lake Poinsett, Wallace (Carla) Holter of Billings, MT; seven grandchildren, Richard Holter of Sioux Falls, LeaAnne Thompson of Sioux Falls, Laura (Gregg) Huewe of Dell Rapids, Steven (Ronnell) Top of Brookings, Sandra (Wally) Amundson of Harrisburg, Ryan Holter of Billings, MT and Tonya (Ben) Simpson of Erie, CO; 10 great grandchildren; two step great grandchildren; and one great great granddaughter.
Vivian was preceded in death by her husband Norman; sisters and their husbands, Eleanor and Herman Mauer, Almyra and Lee Goddard; two brothers, Vincent and Esther Berg and Waldo Berg; and a grandson-in-law Roger Thompson.
Her funeral service will be 11:00 AM, Wednesday, June 10, 2015 at Grace Free Lutheran Church in Bruce. Visitation will be from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM Tuesday at Geise Funeral Home in Estelline. Condolences may be left at www.geisefuneralhome.com.