Vivian Maxine Olson-Phares was born in Centerville, Iowa on July 11, 1927, she died in the home of her daughter, in Longmont, Colorado July 22, 2020. Vivian and her husband Rex were married in Iowa on September 4, 1946. They moved from Centerville, Iowa to Indianola, Iowa in 1952 when Rex became a Highway Patrolman for that area. They lived in Indianola until moving to Longmont, Colorado in 2014.
In the early 1970's they moved from town to acreage west of Indianola where they farmed and raised livestock. For more than 15 years she walked out to check the livestock in every kind of weather at least twice a day. She and Rex loved their pets too and had to many too mention. During this time, she clerked at Younker's in Southridge Mall and then at McCluen Drug in Indianola. She retired from work at age 73.
Vivian loved her Lord and Savior and studied her Bible every day. Her way of learning and remembering was to write down every word she read and her thoughts. She has written down the entire King James Bible at least 3 times. Doing this she left stacks of spiral notebooks of handwritten Bible texts and thoughts.
She loved and was much loved by her family and friends. Both she and her husband Rex enjoyed having family and friends over for meals. She was a very good cook and an excellent baker. She was amazing at crochet, knitting and embroider and when watching television, she was always making something for a family member or a friend.
She was named Nene by her grandson Brett when he began to talk and was still called Nene by many. Her great-grandchildren, Jennifer and Bryson often commented on how selfless their Nene was and admired as well as loved her.
Vivian is survived by her daughter Judy Phares-Funk of Longmont, her grandson Brett Funk, his wife Michele Gibson-Funk and their son Bryson Funk of Longmont. Her great-granddaughter, Jennifer Erkert/Funk-Traksel, her husband Andreas and their sons Jonas and Ben of Germany, many nieces, nephews and friends.
Vivian was preceded in death by her husband Rex on January 2, 2019, her still born son John Rickey Phares 1952, her parents Gust and Edith(Veach) Olson, her brother John Gilmer ‘Jack’ Olson 1944, still born sister Frances Olson 1934, and her beloved son-in-law Robert Martin Funk 2012.
She lived her life humbly for her Lord and her family.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18