Viviana (Vivian) Alma Clark, 97, died October 10, 2020 in a Bottineau nursing home. A private graveside service will be held.

Born March 18, 1923 near Kramer to Henry and Magdalena (Heil) Schmidt, her mother died in Vivian's infancy. Therefore, baby Vivian was raised by her father and stepmother Magdelena (Quenzer) Schmidt in a family of his/hers/their 14 children. Vivian attended grade school near Kramer.

Vivian married David Clark, Jr. on June 6, 1945. They farmed and raised registered Shorthorn cattle on the Clark family homestead southwest of Bottineau. A typical farm wife, she raised a huge garden every year. Vivian kept busy cooking and baking for her family and the hired farm hands always at the table. Everyone loved her food. The children and grandchildren knew there would always be chocolate chip cookies in the cookie jar under the kitchen counter,

Throughout the years, she dressed her chickens and over a thousand chickens for other customers in Bottineau County. In later years, David and Vivian raised and sold registered Border Collie dogs. Vivian's job was to feed the puppies and train them to a leash. It was not uncommon to find her "trying" to lead 6-8 new puppies at a time across the farm yard.

She was known for her patience and her big smile. She was in her 80's when she learned to use the computer. She was still playing solitaire on the computer at the nursing home at the age of 97. She was known for her ability to win at whist and she learned to play pinochle at the age of 90.

Vivian was a member of the First Baptist Church, where she served on the Social Committee. She was a 4-H leader for many years and was previously a Heartwarmers volunteer at Good Samaritan. She was named 1981 National Shorthorn Lassie of the Year for her work with promoting the Shorthorn breed and leadership in the North Dakota Shorthorn Lassie organization.

After nearly 60 years of marriage, David passed away on May 7, 2005. Vivian continued to live on the farm until October 2008, when she moved to Oak Manor Apartments in Bottineau. She resided there until April 2020, when she entered the Good Samaritan Center Nursing Home.

Vivian is survived by one son and three daughters, Dave (Bonnie) Clark, Bottineau; Phylis (Jerry) Fossum, Wahpeton; Sandy Clark, Bottineau; Barb (Ross) Olson, Mesa, AZ; one half-sister, MaryAnn Detzler, Washington state; two sisters-in-law, Edna (Clark) Peterson; and Dorothy Clark, both of Bottineau. She is also survived by 10 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren, as well as many nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased in death by her husband and youngest daughter Susan Loe Tanser; one great grandson, Oliver Olson; three great grandchildren who were stillborn; three sisters, Ann Rudolph; Magdalena Johnson; Rose Bjornseth; three brothers, Henry, Fred and Jacob; three half-sisters, Velma Schmidkunz and Alvina Brown; one half-brother, Melvin; two step-sisters, Lydia Aason and Christina Schultz; and one step-brother, John Quenzer.

In honor of Vivian, share a cup of coffee and your favorite baked good with a friend.