Vivian Levering, 88

Vivian Rosemary Levering, 88, Elbow Lake, died Friday, September 11, 2009, at Douglas County Hospital in Alexandria.

Funeral services will be held Thursday, September 17 at 11 a.m. at United Lutheran Church in Elbow Lake with the Rev. Bob Toso officiating. Burial will be at Vining Cemetery. Visitation is one hour before the service at the church on Thursday morning.

Vivian was born in Oslo on November 27, 1920, as the younger of two daughters to Signe and Karl Johanesen.

She grew up and went to school in Oslo, where she married her first husband, Arild Bjorkmann, in 1940. At the end of the war in occupied Norway, they had a son, Wiran, her only child. Following a divorce, she left the family a few years later.

Living in Oslo and working at the American Embassy, she later met Ed Levering in the mid 1950s, as he was stationed in Norway for several years. They were married in Oslo in 1958. After being stationed in England for several more years, they moved to Los Angeles, California, in the early 1960s. Ed had then been employed with Rocketdyne, working with missiles, and eventually joined the moon-landing program.

They continued their life in Los Angeles until the mid 1980s, until Ed retired and they moved back to Ed’s home state of Minnesota. They first settled on a farm outside of Elbow Lake for about 10 years, and later moved in to town on 8th Avenue. With concern for Ed’s declining health, he was moved to a care home, where he passed away in 2007. Vivian was on her own until failing health required moving to care centers, first to Barrett and later to Alexandria, where she passed away at almost 89 years old.

In Vivian’s early years in Norway, she was a model and occasionally worked as a caterer for the king of Norway. She loved the outdoors, enjoying hiking and skiing with her son and Ed. She and Ed were members of the Sons of Norway in Minnesota, entertaining with her Norwegian cooking, and making decorations for many events. She often sang at different functions in her home church. Vivian also enjoyed knitting, getting together with friends, gardening, and was especially excited with the marriage of her only grandson and having great-grandchildren.

She is survived by her son, Wiran Bjorkmann (wife, Hege) of Norway; step-daughter, Elaine (Levering) Reid of California; grandson, Ole Bjorkmann (wife, Hege); two great-grandchildren, Hedda and Sindre, all residing in Norway; brother-in-law, Arne Ogden of Norway; nephew, Arve Dybvik (wife, Anne) of Norway; nieces, Janet (Levring) Miles (husband, Bob) of Vining; Judy (Levring) Thomsen (husband, Ernie) of Vining; Ellen Ann Keiter (husband, Richard) of Illinois, Phyllis (Levring) Silvers of Colorado; nephews, Milt Paulson (wife, Linda) of Clitherall; Clayton Paulson (wife, Marta) of Oregon; Dennis Paulson of Virginia; Jerome Paulson (wife, Judy) of Minnesota; many other great-nieces and -nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Ed; and her sister, Elsie Dybvik.

On-line condolences may be sent at www.EricksonSmithFH.com.

Arrangements are with Erickson-Smith Funeral Home in Elbow Lake.

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