Vivian Elizabeth Bartsch

Vivian Elizabeth (Hall) Bartsch March 22, 1926- March 25, 2024 Vivian Hall was born March 22, 1926 in Waconia, MN, to parents Katherine (Lindemeyer) and Clarence Hall. When she was very young, the family moved to Wealthwood, MN on the north shore of Lake Mille Lacs. They lived part of one summer in a tent while Clarence built a modest home on a 40 acre plot of land. Vivian attended the one-room Wealthwood school, and later bussed the 20 miles to Aitkin High School, where she graduated in 1944. She was voted "most likely to be the first US female secretary of the treasury". She moved to Minneapolis after graduating, working at Honeywell to earn tuition to the Minneapolis Business College, where she earned an Executive Secretary certificate. While in school, she worked for various families earning "room and board". She eventually took a position with Lutheran Children's Friend Society in Minneapolis, a forerunner of Lutheran Social Service. There she met Richard Bartsch, who was a social worker at the LCFS. They married in 1952. Son Thomas was born in 1955, at which time they purchased a newly built home in Highland Park, St. Paul, where Vivian lived well into her 90s. Son James was born in 1958. The family were members of Christ Church Lutheran in Minneapolis. Vivian joined the Vestry Board of the church in the 1970's, the first female to do so. Richard passed in an automobile accident in 1964, leaving Vivian with two sons, aged 5 and 9 at the time. She was a courageous single mother, striving to create a stable, loving family life. She supported both sons in music lessons, as a Den Mother, in many summer camping trips to Itasca State Park, and eventually throughout the Eastern US, often with her mother along as well. After her sons graduated from High School, she began work at the Minnesota Governor's Residence, planning social events and connecting with the community. She later worked for the State of Minnesota Trade and Economic Development Dept. Vivian was an avid bird watcher, gardener, traveler, and genealogist, among many other interests. She maintained her home in St Paul until age 94, at which time she moved to the Lyngblomsten Care Center in St Paul. She was preceded in death by her husband Richard, and her parents. Her older brother Joseph passed away weeks before Vivian, at age 100. She is survived by her sons Thomas (Julia) and James, her brother Douglas (Patricia), Granddaughters Eleanor (Kyle) and Alice (Christopher) and Great-Grandson Timothy Richard, and many Nieces and Nephews. Services at a later date,

Tributes

Vivian Elizabeth Bartsch

March 22, 1926 - March 25, 2024

Tributes

Vivian Elizabeth Bartsch

March 22, 1926 - March 25, 2024

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