| . . . . in Memory of . . . . |
| . . . . in Memory of . . . . |
| . . . . in Memory of . . . . |
Frances Vivion
Funeral services for Frances Vivion will be held at 2:00 PM Thursday, March 6. Rev. Tim Hutslar
will officiate at the service at the Union Congregational Church in Medicine Lake, with internment
in Medicine Lake Cemetery. Frances died Saturday morning March 1 at Sheridan Memorial
Nursing Home in Plentywood of complications from Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases; she
was 86.
Fran was born in Medicine Lake, Montana January 31, 1922, the daughter of Frank E. and Della C.
(MacArthur) Robinson. She grew up in the Medicine Lake community and graduated from high
school there in 1940. She lived in Plentywood for a while and worked as a clerk at Security State
Bank; then moved back to Medicine Lake, where she worked at several jobs, including managing
the community cannery, and serving as City Clerk. Fran began working for the Medicine Lake
National Wildlife Refuge in the fall of 1962. She retired in January 1985, after 22 years of service.
She loved the refuge – not only her clerical office work, but helping out with visitors, tours, banding
birds, and just watching the wildlife. She also helped manage the Medicine Lake Bowling Alley
from 1972 until it was sold. She married Lionel Borley October 25, 1949 in Plentywood; they lived
in the Medicine Lake community until his death in 1958.
Funeral services for Frances Vivion will be held at 2:00 PM Thursday, March 6. Rev. Tim Hutslar
will officiate at the service at the Union Congregational Church in Medicine Lake, with internment
in Medicine Lake Cemetery. Frances died Saturday morning March 1 at Sheridan Memorial
Nursing Home in Plentywood of complications from Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases; she
was 86.
Fran was born in Medicine Lake, Montana January 31, 1922, the daughter of Frank E. and Della C.
(MacArthur) Robinson. She grew up in the Medicine Lake community and graduated from high
school there in 1940. She lived in Plentywood for a while and worked as a clerk at Security State
Bank; then moved back to Medicine Lake, where she worked at several jobs, including managing
the community cannery, and serving as City Clerk. Fran began working for the Medicine Lake
National Wildlife Refuge in the fall of 1962. She retired in January 1985, after 22 years of service.
She loved the refuge – not only her clerical office work, but helping out with visitors, tours, banding
birds, and just watching the wildlife. She also helped manage the Medicine Lake Bowling Alley
from 1972 until it was sold. She married Lionel Borley October 25, 1949 in Plentywood; they lived
in the Medicine Lake community until his death in 1958.
On July 26, 1970, she married LeRoy “Barb” Larson in Great Falls; they made their home in Medicine Lake until his death in 1972. On
April 26, 1985 Fran married Owen Vivion in Billings. They made their home in Spokane until his death in 1998. In 2002 Fran returned
“home” to Sheridan County, where she entered Sheridan Memorial Nursing Home.
Fran was a fun-loving lady who lived for the moment: she was always ready to jump in the car to go for a drive, loved cooking, (her
homemade noodles ....yummy!) maintained a meticulous flower and vegetable garden and always canned huge amounts of produce.
She was “crafty” – loved to sew, making most of her kids’ clothes, was constantly busy in all kinds of community and school activities,
she was always ready to help in any way she could. She was a member of the Union Congregational Church of Medicine Lake,
Women's Fellowship and Medicine Lake V.F.W. Auxiliary.
Fran is survived by four daughters and two stepsons; Geri Caletti and her husband Carl, of Fountain Valley, California and their children
Nicole, Danielle, and Andrea; Dee Kimmerle of Plentywood and her children Lisa and Scott; Janelle Steinberg and her husband Alan, of
Plentywood and their children Erich, Megan, Erin, and Melissa; and Debbie Madsen, of Everett, Washington and her children Shelley and
Chris; Ron Vivion and his wife Sandi, of Mill Creek, Washington and their children Seanna and Micah; Mike Vivion, and his wife, Gina, of
Crookston, Minnesota; and her four great grandchildren Bryce, Seth, Blake, and Jace. She is also survived by two brothers, Frank
Robinson, of Great Falls, Montana and Gary Robinson, of Spokane, Washington and numerous nieces and nephews. She was
preceded in death by her parents, husbands, sisters Alice and Edith, three nephews and three nieces.
Fulkerson Funeral Home of Plentywood has charge of arrangements.
April 26, 1985 Fran married Owen Vivion in Billings. They made their home in Spokane until his death in 1998. In 2002 Fran returned
“home” to Sheridan County, where she entered Sheridan Memorial Nursing Home.
Fran was a fun-loving lady who lived for the moment: she was always ready to jump in the car to go for a drive, loved cooking, (her
homemade noodles ....yummy!) maintained a meticulous flower and vegetable garden and always canned huge amounts of produce.
She was “crafty” – loved to sew, making most of her kids’ clothes, was constantly busy in all kinds of community and school activities,
she was always ready to help in any way she could. She was a member of the Union Congregational Church of Medicine Lake,
Women's Fellowship and Medicine Lake V.F.W. Auxiliary.
Fran is survived by four daughters and two stepsons; Geri Caletti and her husband Carl, of Fountain Valley, California and their children
Nicole, Danielle, and Andrea; Dee Kimmerle of Plentywood and her children Lisa and Scott; Janelle Steinberg and her husband Alan, of
Plentywood and their children Erich, Megan, Erin, and Melissa; and Debbie Madsen, of Everett, Washington and her children Shelley and
Chris; Ron Vivion and his wife Sandi, of Mill Creek, Washington and their children Seanna and Micah; Mike Vivion, and his wife, Gina, of
Crookston, Minnesota; and her four great grandchildren Bryce, Seth, Blake, and Jace. She is also survived by two brothers, Frank
Robinson, of Great Falls, Montana and Gary Robinson, of Spokane, Washington and numerous nieces and nephews. She was
preceded in death by her parents, husbands, sisters Alice and Edith, three nephews and three nieces.
Fulkerson Funeral Home of Plentywood has charge of arrangements.
Remembering Frances
| 1922 - 2008 |
Carole Anderson Knaub
Richmond, TX
caknaub2@comcast.net
I am so sorry to hear of the loss of your wonderful Mother. I will never forget the days us "Dagmar Danes" lived in your basement. I am
so happy I was able to visit with your Mother the last time we were in Plentywood. I know she will certainly be missed by everyone.
Richmond, TX
caknaub2@comcast.net
I am so sorry to hear of the loss of your wonderful Mother. I will never forget the days us "Dagmar Danes" lived in your basement. I am
so happy I was able to visit with your Mother the last time we were in Plentywood. I know she will certainly be missed by everyone.