Vivian E. Grimm

Obituary

Vivian Eileen Grimm was born on February 25, 1924, in Glencoe, Minnesota.  She was the daughter of Maurice and Ethel (Dibb) Howe.  Their family lived in Glencoe, Minnesota and were members of the Congregational United Church of Christ. Vivian graduated from Glencoe High School in 1942, and began working as a clerk in the McLeod County Military registration office.        

Vivian married the love of her life, Floyd Grimm, on November 16, 1945.   They moved to Minneapolis, MN for a short time and on their return to Glencoe Vivian began her long career as bookkeeper and office manager at Glencoe Hospital. She retired after 34 years at the hospital in 1982.

Vivian and Floyd traveled across the US to many different states.  They especially enjoyed visits with family, playing cards and going to casinos. They also liked going out to eat, to auctions and when Floyd made things from wood such as birds, tulips etc. Vivian painted them. They were almost never apart.

Her beloved Floyd lost his battle with cancer and passed away on December 18, 2005. Vivian had never learned to drive and walked everywhere. She remained in their home, but it was a lot of upkeep for her, with stairs to laundry and no longer within walking distance to a grocery store.  She made the move to Orchard Estate apartments in August of 2011.  The apartments were connected by indoor halls to the Glencoe nursing home, hospital and clinic so she could continue her daily walks no matter the weather. She struggled with over 90% hearing loss but did her best with hearing aids, close caption TV and a CapTel phone.  She spent time working on search a word and jigsaw puzzles, reading magazines and Danielle Steele books. She kept up on her soap opera and loved watching Tiger Woods play golf.

Vivian continued to enjoy visits with family and friends and was often the first to say “Let’s go out to eat or to the casino”. From her apartment windows she could see the new GlenFields care facility being built and watched it with great interest. In January of 2017, she developed serious health issues and after a brief hospital stay made the move to the nursing home. Her health improved and she had the pleasure of being one of the first residents in the new GlenFields facility when it opened in August of 2018.  She could continue her daily indoor walks, working on puzzles in a beautiful room with a fireplace and visits with family and friends.

We were able to celebrate Vivian’s 95th birthday with her. Later that winter she fell and broke her shoulder which required a trip to Methodist Hospital in Minneapolis for surgery and rehab. She recovered well and was doing fine until COVID-19 changed the world. Visits at GlenFields came to an abrupt stop, residents were restricted to eating meals and spending their days in their rooms. Eventually, we were able to schedule brief one-on-one outdoor visits, then visits to her room which were halted numerous times due to increases in COVID-19.  Because of her hearing loss, Vivian chose to continue to have meals in her room.  She spent most days alone in her room watching TV, working on search-a-word books, and reading. It was certainly keeping her safe but how she missed getting visits, doing jigsaw puzzles and going on her walks.

In early January 2022, Vivian was again, taken to Methodist Hospital for medical issues. The doctors were able to do some procedures that helped, but determined the problem would likely recur and she was not strong enough to have surgery. She was stabilized and later returned to GlenFields. She refused to eat or take her meds and was placed on palliative care. She peacefully made her long-awaited journey to join Floyd on Saturday, January 22, 2022, at GlenFields Living With Care in Glencoe, Minnesota at the age of 97 years. Blessed be her memory.

She was preceded in death by her parents Ethel and Maurice Howe; Sisters, Carol Lindstrand, Elaine and her husband, Howard “Pat” Fruetel, Sister-in-law, Esther Howe; and many members of the Dibb, Howe and Grimm families.

God’s peace to them and to all of us left here who honor and remember Vivian with deep affection: her brother Wayne Howe, many nieces, nephews and their families, cousins and friends. Vivian was always generous and loving to each of us, but she took special delight in the arrival of new babies.  We will miss her and keep her in our hearts forever.

The family of Vivian Grimm would like to extend a grateful thanks to GlenFields Living With Care for the wonderful friendships and care.