Vivian Eitzen

Vivian Duretta Clark, the daughter of Fred and Anna (Olson) Clark was born on February 5, 1906, in Lamberton, Minnesota. She received her early education in Lamberton, and she attended high school in Mankato, Minnesota, where she and her family moved in 1920. Vivian received an elementary education degree from Mankato State Teachers College. Vivian moved to Lake Bluff, IL, as a house mother and first grade teacher at the Methodist Deaconess Orphanage. She moved back to Storden, Minnesota, teaching both 1st and 2nd grades, and then to Mountain Lake, Minnesota teaching 1st grade. On December 2, 1933, she was united in marriage to Jacob Eitzen. They made their home in Waconia, Minnesota until 1943, when they returned to Mountain Lake in the telephone business. Jake went Home to the Lord on January 3, 1975. Vivian was a member of the Bethel Mennonite Church in Mountain Lake and was active in the church serving as Kindergarten Superintendent, teacher of Release Time and Wednesday night classes. She also had a great interest in the Mission Society. She was Baptized in the Lutheran Church at Storden, and was a member of the following churches, Methodist Church in Lamberton, Century Methodist of Mankato, Methodist Church of Lake Bluff, IL, and the Moravian Church at Waconia, MN. Vivian was also a member of the American Legion Auxiliary. Vivian spent much of her time in prayer for Church leaders, missionaries and friends, and writing letters of encouragement to many. She loved her family and felt the many blessings of her God. After living for several years at the Eventide Nursing Home in Mountain Lake, Vivian moved to the Good Samaritan Village in Mountain Lake on February 27, 2003, and this is where she died on Thursday, August 31, 2006. Vivian is survived by two sons, William and his wife Judy Eitzen of Boulder, Colorado, and Allan Eitzen of Morrison, Colorado; a daughter-in-law, Louise Eitzen of Fairmont, Minnesota; five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren; a brother, Robert V. and his wife Barbara Clark of Fairmont; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; a son, Donald Eitzen; two great-granddaughters; and two sisters, Blance Beckman and Charlotte Cantine. Memorials are preferred to Missions.