Vivian Kuipers, 98, Bismarck, passed away Dec. 14, 2021. Funeral services will be held 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 18 at Eastgate Funeral Service, 2302 E Divide Ave., Bismarck. Visitation will be held one hour prior at the funeral home.
Vivian Kuipers was born February 5, 1923 on the family farm during a blizzard to Gerbic and Emma (Gerber) Kuipers. She attended rural school and graduated from Kintyre High School in 1939. She graduated from Valley City State Teachers College with a standard degree in 1941 and with a full teaching degree in 1957. She continued her education at University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, North Dakota State University, Fargo, and Mary College, Bismarck.
She taught at rural schools for three years, then in Nome, Beach, Big Timber, Montana, and Bathgate State School for the Blind where she was also a boys dorm “mother.” She then taught the sixth grade at Will-Moore Elementary in Bismarck from 1953 until her retirement in 1979. She loved her students and followed many of them through their high school and college years.
Vivian was a charter member of A.D.K. Gamma Chapter from December 1959. She became a Golden Sister. Vivian was a member of First Presbyterian Church since December 1948, becoming a Deacon, a member of Worship and Music Commission, and was on a pastor nominating committee. She also worked with Meals on Wheels program for several years. Vivian read newspaper articles over the air for the blind through “DRIS” at the State Library as a volunteer for 14.5 years.
She loved to read, garden, visit with family and friends, but truly loved to travel. She visited all 50 states, Canada, Mexico, and parts of Europe, Asia and Africa. What she learned in her travels she used in the classroom. With Vivian, there was always a lesson in what she did, and she never stopped “teaching.” Another passion was attending the Bismarck High School basketball games where she watched her students play. Later she followed the games on TV. She was also a Minnesota Twins fan.
Vivian is survived by her nieces and nephews, Janice Danroth, Mesa, Ariz., Kay Stephens, Corvallis, Oreg., David and Linda Kuipers Arlington, SD, Karla Kuipers, Jackson, Minn., Susan Eberl, Dawson, John and Carolina Kuipers, Tappen, Nanette and Tim Boots, Watertown, SD, Mark and Lonnie Kuipers, Oakes, and Joyce Kuipers, Cedar Rapids, IA; and many great-nieces and nephews and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers and one sister-in-law, Carl (Betty) Kuipers, and Johnny Kuipers; nephew, Dale Kuipers; nephews-in-law, Gary Eberl and Ralph Danroth; two great-nephews, Aaron Kuipers and Jonathon Kuipers; and one great-great nephew, Hunter Kuipers.
The family prefers memorial to the Kintyre Cemetery or to the donor’s choice.
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