Vivian Marie Skoglund

Vivian was born in Grasston Minnesota on December 1, 1930, to Arvid and Anna (Hellzen) Nelson. She spent her early years in the company of many Scandinavian relatives learning a good work ethic and resourcefulness. 

Vivian graduated from Fergus Falls High School in 1948 where she lived with her widowed sister Margaret. The love of her life was Jorice Skoglund of Braham Minnesota. One of their favorite activities was dancing to old time music, polkas and waltzes at local taverns. Their marriage took place in 1949 at the Swedish Covenant Church on 8th Street and Chicago Avenue in downtown Minneapolis. They lived the first years of their marriage in South Minneapolis before moving to a small home on Silver Lake in New Brighton with young children Steven and Sandra. A tornado the summer of 1951 completely destroyed their home, car and belongings. With the help of the Salvation Army, Vivian and Jorice were able to reestablish their home in a Spring Lake Park garage apartment. In 1953 they moved to their forever home in Blaine and children, Cheryl and Michael were born. Over the years home renovations were done to accommodate the growing family. In later years a garage workshop and covered patio were added. Every year Vivian hung multiple hanging flower baskets on the patio. The yard was an oasis filled with bird baths, feeders, beautiful mature trees and funky lawn ornaments.

When her youngest child began school Vivian entered the work force at Control Data. She worked there until retirement in 1989 making lifelong friends with her carpool companions.

With a can-do attitude of make it work, reuse and figure it out, Vivian sewed curtains, drapes and clothes, recovered furniture and taught her daughters to sew. A glue gun, scissors and small toolbox were ever present for household repairs and to create holiday decorations for family and friends. As the grand kids came along, they became the recipients of her creativity when she made orange snowsuits to wear during deer hunting trips. 

Vivian and Jorice were seldom away from each other. An annual deer hunting trip was taken without kids, Jorice hunting, Vivian cooking. Summer garage picnics with family and friends were frequent. In the mid 60’s Vivian and Jorice built the family cabin on Burrows Lake, near Grand Rapids in Balsam Township with the help of family, friends and neighbors. For nearly 60 years, five generations of the Skoglund family have enjoyed the cabin and lifelong friendships made with our lake neighbors. Many hours were spent on the deck with beer, conversation, drop in friends, watching loons and hummingbirds, celebrating 4th of July, as well as unnamed shenanigans. 

As empty nesters Vivian and Jorice took a few cruises with friends during the winter. After retirement, their time was divided between the cabin and home and taking road trips out of Minnesota visiting family and friends. In the summer of 2009 to celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary, Vivian and Jorice took a 13-day trip to Alaska with their daughters and sons-in-law, by boat, train and bus. It was a trip of a lifetime.

Vivian remained in the family home after the death of Jorice in 2016. In 2019 she moved to Brightendale Assisted Living in New Brighton. She died in hospice on January 10, 2025 after a brief illness surrounded by family. Vivian is survived by children Sandra (Bart) Lossing, Cheryl (Richard) Hruby, and Michael (Roni) Skoglund, as well as grandchildren Christy (Aaron) Itkonen, Anna (Josh) Hoheisel, Samantha (Robert) Langston, Carl (Jenna) Skoglund, and great grandchildren Cooper and Mya Hoheisel, Hayden, Averie and Abel Langston, and Landon, Lucy and Jackson Skoglund as well as step grandchildren. Preceded in death by husband Jorice and son Steven.