S. Vivian Grace

Webster: S. Vivian Grace 100, of Webster died on Saturday, March 11, 2006 at the Bethesda Home in Webster. Her Memorial Service will be at 2:00 P.M. Saturday March 18, 2006 at Heritage Village Chapel in Webster. Fr. Leslie Campbell and Fr. Darrell Lamberty will lead the service. There will be no visitation. Sara Vivian Watters was born on August 10, 1905 to Pearl and Udy (McGiness) Watters at Waverly, IA. She spent her early childhood years in Waverly until the family moved to South Dakota. Sara graduated from Aberdeen Central High School and furthered her education at Northern State College where she earned her teaching degree. In 1925 she married Cyril Grace. The couple were adept ballroom dancers and at one time, were offered a Hollywood contract. They elected, instead to continue teaching and begin their family. From 1948-52 they served as teachers\missionaries on the Standing Rock Reservation in South Dakota. While there, the family was adopted by the Hunkpapa Sioux Tribe; Vivian’s Indian name was Prairie Rose. She was especially proud of the fact that she was mother to three eagle scouts. Throughout their professional lives, Vivian, an elementary school teacher and Cyril, lived in many areas of the country, but always returned to their Enemy Swim Lake home during the summer months. In 1973 they retired to the lake. Cyril died in 1981. Vivian was an avid swimmer and, in 1987, she won a silver medal for swimming the free style in the Senior Citizen Olympics in St. Louis, Missouri. She loved teaching and playing the piano…she was a noted piano teacher. She had an especially keen sense of enjoyment for nature, especially bird watching and flower gardening. In 1990 she crusaded to protect geese as they tried to cross Rush Lake Road. The Department of Game, Fish and Parks installed a ‘Goose Crossing” sign along the highway. She was an active member of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Webster and was organist for many years. She was a life-member of N.S.C. Alumni Assoc. and most recently a member of the KELO-Land Century Club. Vivian passed away at Bethesda Nursing Home in Webster, SD at the age of 100 years, 7 months, and 1 day. Survivors include two sons: Dr. Rene (Marilyn) Grace of Clinton, MD and Reed (Judy) Grace of Sioux Falls, SD; one daughter: Vee McCutchen of Ft. Lauderdale, FL; 13 grandchildren, 22 great grandchildren and 7 great-great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, one son, Richard and one granddaughter, Kallee.