Vivian Rock, age 93, of Linn Grove, Iowa died on Thursday, April 13, 2017, at the Avera Heart Hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday, April 18, 2017, at 10:30 a.m. at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Linn Grove. Burial will be in the Barnes Township Cemetery in Linn Grove. Visitation will take place on Monday, April 17, 2017, from 5-8:00 p.m. at the Sliefert Funeral Home in Sioux Rapids. The Sliefert Funeral Home in Sioux Rapids is in charge of arrangements.  

Vivian Irene Lauridsen, the daughter of Marinus and Maren (Beckby) Lauridsen was born in Alta, Iowa, on October 7, 1923.  She was baptized as an infant at the Danish Lutheran Church in Alta. 

Vivian began her education at Fairview School until moving to Linn Grove where she graduated from the Linn Grove Consolidated School with the Class of 1941.  She continued her education at AIB Business College in Des Moines, Iowa.

On April 20, 1944, Vivian was united in marriage to Joseph Alonzo Rock at the Lutheran parsonage in Newell, Iowa. The couple was blessed with two children: James and Nancy.  Following their marriage, Joe served his country in the Army Air Corps, Pacific Theater in the Philippines during World War II.  While Joe was in the service, Vivian worked in Des Moines and Denver, Colorado.  Joe received an honorable discharge and the couple moved to Linn Grove, Iowa in 1949 when they began their farming vocation.  Vivian assisted on the farm and was also the bookkeeper for the farming operation.  Joe died on August 17, 1985, but Vivian continued to make her home on the farm.  In 2014, Vivian moved to Hillside Assisted Living in Spencer, and for the past year has made her home at the St. Luke Lutheran Home in Spencer.

Vivian was an active member of the Trinity Lutheran Church in Linn Grove where she had been a Sunday school teacher, Sunday school superintendent, and a member of the Women of the ELCA and served as an officer. For many years Vivian was a volunteer representative to the St. Luke Lutheran Home. 

Special interests of Vivian’s included sewing, gardening, spending time outdoors in nature, and being remembered as an extraordinary cook.  Vivian adored her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren and cherished the times she could spend with her family.  All who knew Vivian remember her as being a very kind, thoughtful, and appreciative person.  She always had a “smile and a thank you” for all she met.

Vivian’s life and memory will be celebrated, honored, and cherished by her family which include her children: James (Margaret) Rock of Peterson, Iowa; Nancy Nelson of Linn Grove, Iowa; grandchildren: John (Shelly) Rock, Brian (Andrea) Rock, Aaron (Tanya) Nelson, and Anna (Tyler) Barnett; great grandchildren: Joe, Lincoln and Caleb Rock; Maren and Naomi Rock; Andrew, Isaac, and Daniel Nelson; along with her many friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Joseph; son-in-law, Richard Nelson; and great granddaughter, Gracelyn Nelson.

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