Rush Funeral Home Logo
Logo Image
(605) 859-2400 You can call us 24/7
Newsletter Get new obituaries by email
Search Search through the obituaries




Print Obituary

In memory of

Vivian J. Minard

of Philip, South Dakota, died on Thursday, June 30, 2011 at the Hans P. Peterson Memorial Hospital in Philip at the age of 103

Vivian Jeanette Minard, a resident of Philip for over 60 years, died of natural causes on Thursday, June 30.
Born in Oldham, SD, on June 4, 1908, she always hoped she would live into this millennium, and she exceeded her hopes by several years, having celebrated her 103rd birthday just a few weeks ago.
As a child, she spent several years living on homesteaded land near Miles City, Montana, but her parents decided to move back to SD, one reason being that Vivian would have access to better schooling. Her father bought a store near Aberdeen and Vivian, living for a time with her grandmother, attended school in Madison. She fortunately was not there on a day in 1921 when her mother was a witness to the murder of her father by three young gunmen. After this tragic event, Vivian and her mother settled in Howard, where Vivian graduated form Howard High School, the valedictorian of her class.
She attended what is now Dakota State University in Madison for two years, and then taught in elementary schools for several years, both in Onida and Redfield, where she met her future husband George.
They married in 1936 and moved to the Minneapolis / St. Paul area, where their daughters Janet and Julie were born. In 1949, George and Vivian purchased the Philip Pharmacy and the family moved to Philip. Their first home in Philip was the Seneschal Hotel – from which they were asked to move. “We don’t let children live here,” was the explanation. (But they had!) The second home was a two-room “apartment” overlooking the drugstore! By Thanksgiving they had a rented house. In 1953, they built a home on High Street, which remains the Minard family headquarters to this day.
During the year in which her daughters were growing up, Vivian became active in the community with membership in the Philip Women’s Club and Methodist Ladies’ Aid. She helped raised money for the March of Dimes – lots of dimes. In 1957, her basement became a fashion storehouse for costumes modeled in the historical style show presented as part of Philip’s 50th birthday.
Vivian occasionally substitute taught in Philip’s grade and high schools. She could always be counted on to provide rides to and from out-of-town music, speech and sporting events that her daughters and their pals were attending or competing in.
In her home or yard, one could often see the results of Vivian’s flair for creating. The long-time owner of the local hardware store told Julie that Vivian was the best spray paint customer he’d ever had! She either spray-painted or covered things with contact paper that needed rehabilitating – including the Christmas tree one year. To this day you will find her expertly painted (not spray) figurines or painted (spray) arrangements of yucca pods in her home.
Traveling was something Vivian enjoyed throughout her life. She visited all fifty states, as well as Canada, Mexico, Ireland and Japan. Unfortunately, she never made it to Norway, her ancestral home.
Over the years, she and George made many trips to California and Oregon to spend time with their daughters. They became very reliable cat sitters for Janet and her husband Bob. Vivian developed a special relationship with Sparky, who – while a cat – reminded Vivian in some way of another Sparky, a beloved dog from her Montana childhood.
After George sold the Philip Pharmacy and retired, they spent several months each winter in either Texas or Arizona finally buying a townhouse in Sun City, which they were able to enjoy for several years.
Vivian’s last decade was spent in Silverleaf and the Philip Nursing Home. Although her hearing faded and her eye-sight dimmed so she could no longer read her beloved books, she remained mentally quite lucid and feisty until her health began to fail in the last five months. Her family and friends are thankful that her death – when it came – came peacefully.
Vivian was preceded in death by her parents, Clarence and Julia Hetland, and her husband George. Surviving her are her daughters Alice Janet (and her husband Robert Schnyder) of Buena Park, California; Julien Lee of Long Beach, California; and her only grandson, Erik, of Saratoga, CA.
A gathering in Vivian’s honor will take place from 4:30 – 7:00 pm, Friday, July 8 at the Lake Waggoner Golf Course. The family believes this setting to be “doubly appropriate” since Vivian took many neighborhood children swimming there in the 1950’s and her late husband George was quite a golf enthusiast.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established.


Open the Memorial Folder

A gathering in Vivian's honor will take place from 4:30 to 7:00 p.m. Friday, July 8, at the Lake Waggoner Golf Course in Philip.

  • Dear Julie,

    I am so sorry for your loss. Your Mom and I spoke so many times about the quality of food and if lobster was going to be served for supper. I witnessed your dedication to your Mom over the last 6 years and I commend you so much on being such a good daughter. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
    Love,
    John Hart     ~ John Hart Philip (6/30/2011)
  • Julie & Janet, your mother was the most fun in the neighborhood. My prayers & thought are with you. ~ Diane Philip, SD (6/30/2011)
  • Dear Julie,

    I am so sorry for your loss. Your Mom and I spoke so many times about the quality of food and if lobster was going to be served for supper. I witnessed your dedication to your Mom over the last 6 years and I commend you so much on being such a good daughter. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
    Peace & Love,
    John Hart     ~ John Hart jfhart@gwtc.net (6/30/2011)
  • Really sorry to hear Julie, I have missed you and your mom the last couple months. But I am greatful to have known her so well. (and you) Thanks for being such a great daughter to her and I am glad she is home...You and Vivian have been and will be in my thoughts... Love Danae ~ Danae Adair PO. Box 982 (6/30/2011)
  • Julie, Knew your mom well and am very sorry to hear of her passing. She was a great lady and will be missed, the world will be a little grayer without her. ~ Mike Hart Emerado ND (6/30/2011)
  • Let me just say, your mother was absolutely amazing. She was an inspiration and I adored her. May she rest in peace. ~ Jay and Tabatha Calhoon Wall (6/30/2011)
  • i am sorry for the loss of your mother. she lived a good, long, life. we all loved her very much. and will miss her. GOD BLESS YOU ALL. ~ nancy neville philip (6/30/2011)
  • Please except our sympathy’s in the loss of Vivian, she was one of Philip’s Great Ladies when we were growing up. Butch and Chyrl (Collins) Amsden ~ Butch Amsden Santa Rosa Ca. (6/30/2011)
  • Julie, Knew your Mother well.Sorry for your loss. Oh! high Take care. ~ Ray Wilhelm Rapid City,S.D. (6/30/2011)
  • Dear Janet and Julie, No matter her age (or yours!), I understnd that her death will be hard on your hearts. Her dedication and committment to this community was appreciated by everyone. What a great example she was to you two as you brought those same qualities to her when she needed them. The care you took of her could only come to a woman who earned that response. You were, and are, the "lucky ducks", and so was she. She was a wonderful lady with her sharp sense humor tempered with compassion. We were all lucky to have her for 103 years. ~ Bobby Sloat Philip (6/30/2011)
  • Dear Julie and Janet,
    Your Mom and Dad were always fun to be around when they visited California. I can picture both of them finally together again! All of you are in our prayers.
    Love,
    Christine Valenciana and Family     ~ Christine Valenciana cvalenciana@fullerton.edu (6/30/2011)
  • Julie, Your mom had a good long life. I'm sorry for you for her passing.

    I remember her as having such a soft voice but people listened.     ~ Charlotte Quinn, S.D. (6/30/2011)
  • Vivian will be missed in our family in Portland. We have so many laughs thinking about Vivian and George.I am thankful that she is finally at rest, and maybe checking up on George. I will never forget them both. They were lucky to have such wonderful daughters in Julie and Janet. you are both in my thoughts. Love you, Kathy ~ Kathy Schmidt Portland, Oregon (6/30/2011)
  • Julie... We all love you so much & words can't adequately express how much I admire what a wonderful and dedicated daughter you have been to your mom. Such a testament to what an amazing person she was! All the love in the world to you - from Joel, Kate, Emily & Abby (we miss you - can't wait to see you soon!) ~ Kate Flores Costa Mesa, CA (6/30/2011)
  • Hello Julie and Janet...I sure admired your parents and I believe they are together now. They were both such fun and wonderful role models in Philip. Our sympathy to you. Gary and Joey ~ Joey Husband Peterson Faith, SD (6/30/2011)
  • Juli, We are thinkin of you. You have lost someone very special, someone who touched many hearts. And those hearts will touch many more. And in that way your loved one will always remain a part of you and a part of everything. With sincere sympathy. ~ George & Sharon Sichterman Casper, WY (6/30/2011)
  • It was wonderful know your mom and George when we did. Dana and he were terrific at their jokes. Every once in a while your mom would put a zinger in and crack everyone up. How wonderful she live a happy and health life. Lots of Love, Beverqueer ~ Beverly McGuffin P O Box 64336, Tucson AZ 85728 (6/30/2011)
  • Dear Janet and Julie,
    Enjoyed your Mom growing up in Philip with the two of you. Always a smile and a kind word. Your Dad was a great one also. Hope to see you in Philip or Las Vegas one of these days.

    Regards,

    Joe and Diana
    murphylv@aol.com
    ~ Joe & Diana Murphy 2847 Utica Circle, Las Vegas, NV 89146 (6/30/2011)
  • Dear Janet and Julie,

    Very sorry to hear of the passing of your Mom, Vivian. She was a fixture in our community for many years while we went to school and prepared ourselves for the adult life. Always a big smile and an encouraging word for all. She will be missed by all who knew her.

    All the best,

    Joe Murphy     ~ Joe Murphy 2847 Utica Circle, Las Vegas, NV 89146 (6/30/2011)