Vivian Harriett Barels, 97, of Milford, formerly of Storm Lake, died Saturday, Oct. 12, at Accura Healthcare in Milford.
Funeral services were held Sunday, Oct. 20, at St. Mark Lutheran Church in Storm Lake. Burial was in Buena Vista Memorial Park Cemetery in Storm Lake. Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake was in charge of the arrangements.
Vivian Harriett Hansen, daughter of Harry and Clara (Lund) Hansen, was born Aug. 5, 1927, on a farm in Audubon County. Vivian was baptized at Bethany Lutheran Church in Kimballton, and was confirmed at Nain Lutheran Church in Newell. She began schooling at a country school in Audubon County until her family moved to a farm near Albert City. She graduated from Albert City High School where she lettered in basketball, track and softball.
Vivian attended C.E. Business school in Omaha, Neb., where she also played basketball. She worked for Des Moines USFB Insurance Company.
She was united in marriage to Donald J. Barels, on Feb. 17, 1951, at Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Albert City. Don and Vivian lived in Storm Lake and had three children: Brian, Gail and Lisa.
Vivian and Don were among the first members of St. Mark Lutheran Church in Storm Lake. All their children were baptized at St. Mark and Brian was the first baby baptized at the church.
Vivian was a homemaker and loved working in the garden and with her flowers. She worked for 23 years at Buena Vista College. Following her retirement, Vivian enjoyed volunteering at her church and BV County Hospital as well as playing bridge with her friends and spending time with her family. She moved to Spirit Lake in 2014 to be closer to her children.
Vivian was preceded in death by her husband, Donald “Don;” parents; sisters, Ruby and Delores; and brother Donald.
Survivors include her son Brian (Penelope) Barels of Spirit Lake; daughters: Gail Barels of Marion; Lisa (Paul) Weeks of Spirit Lake; seven grandchildren: Brianne Babel of Castana; Neil (Bobbi) Barels of Columbus, Neb.; Keri Fredrickson of Fremont, Neb.; Mikaela (Tanner) Perrigo of Spirit Lake; Matthew (Rachel) Weeks of Norwalk; Marisa Weeks of Sioux Falls, S.D.; Mason Weeks of Spirit Lake; 11 great-grandchildren; many nieces, nephews and friends.