Vivian Vaughn Larsen Foster

Vivian Vaughn Larsen Foster completed her earthly journey at 82 years old on June 6 just short of her 83rd birthday at her home in Caldwell, ID.

One of Vivian’s favorite quotes “She stood in the storm and when the wind did not blow her way, she adjusted her sails.” -Elizabeth Edwards

Vivian Vaughn Larsen was born in Burley, Idaho on June 20th, 1943, to parents, Lamar Glenn Larsen and Muriel Vivian Norton. Vivian was preceded in death by her younger sister Bette (Betsy) and younger brother Norman whom she cherished. She spent her younger years in the family’s small home in Burley, Idaho. In1975 her parents purchased 3 acres of land in Heyburn, Idaho where she enjoyed long summers watching the Snake River pass by in the front yard. She and her mother shared a close, lifetime friendship. They were best friends and kindred spirits; she looked to her mom and valued her opinion on many of her life choices.

Her high school years started and finished in Burley, Idaho before she moved into her college years at Utah State University in Logan, Utah. In 1965 Vivian graduated from USU with a Bachelor of Science and a Secondary Certification in Business Education for Utah and Idaho. Throughout her entire life she continued taking classes to further her interests and keep her Idaho and Utah teaching certificates current. After graduating college, she moved to the Bay Area where she took a teaching position at San Juan School District in Sacramento, California. She taught shorthand, typing, and clerical practice to high school students. In the early 70’s, she wanted to get closer to family and took a position with the Davis School District in Kaysville, Utah where she continued teaching more of the same classes she loved. Vivian used to tease her kids with her ability to write what was inside their Christmas gifts using archaic form of shorthand writing. Her kids could not figure out what it meant, and she found great joy using in her “secret writing”.

In the mid-eighties, Vivian took a position as the Secretary to the Dean of Student Affairs for the College of Idaho. She spent many hours helping future educators build their teacher placement packets that would eventually go out to schools to help them find their dream jobs. Vivian also worked closely with the work-study students in her office and always formed close friendships with each of them. Occasionally Sarah and Aaron will bump into former students who attended the College of Idaho. They always said such nice things about Vivian and thought she was the sweetest lady. She retired from this position in 2011 and began her career as a grandma.

Vivian married Paul Hawks Foster in 1972 in the Logan Utah Temple. They soon adopted two children, Sarah Ann Foster in 1976 and Aaron Paul Foster in 1978. Vivian and Paul headed down different paths in the late 80’s and divorced. Vivian loved being a mom to her two children. She was fortunate enough to stay home with them during their formative years, ensuring they had a good education and fun extracurricular activities. Sarah had a love for theater and Aaron for sports.

Vivian loved working in her gardens. Every summer she planted veggies and tended to her raspberry bush and flowers. When family came to visit, she loved going on a walk around her yard sharing her hard work and harvest. She loved picking and smelling the basil leaves and she insisted we smell the fragrant plant as well. Her favorite summer smell was when the Russian Olive trees came into bloom. She frequently took us to a park nearby where we could sit under the Russian olive trees which at times turned it into a picnic. Vivian was an avid reader and crossword puzzler. Her favorite books were Tuck Everlasting, The Secret Garden, Rebecca Have I Loved, and The Velveteen Rabbit. Vivian read Tuck Everlasting 100s of times; the book was so used the pages were falling out, they were dogeared and she had written her archaic scribbles all over the margins. Vivian had many faithful furry companions and friends, but her favorites were Casper the Siamese cat and Smudge (aka Kitty) her white smudge headed stray. Cats were always a big part of her life to the end. She loved the simple things in life, a smile, a hug, a friend, her children and grandkids to whom she was attached to each in her own way.

Vivian was blessed with six wonderful grandchildren. She loved spending time with them and laughing at their antics. She thoroughly enjoyed going on adventures with them and following their activities. Vivian would frequently have sleepovers with the grandkids and would take them to drive-in movies, sing together, plant her garden, and eat sandwiches and burgers. She would take her grandchildren to swimming, clown school, and bowling lessons. She would plan tea parties with her granddaughters and take all the grandchildren yard sailing. She wanted them to be addicted to the hobby as much as she was and judging by their rooms it worked. They love collecting what some say is junk and others say is treasure. Her grandkids always brought her so much joy and made every day better.

Vivian was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Heavenly Father saw her love for teaching because she was called many times to be a primary teacher after she retired from her career at C of I. She thoroughly enjoyed teaching and working with the young kids in Primary and it showed as she spent long hours putting the primary lessons together. She would practice them on her grandchildren prior to Sundays to ensure her lesson was perfect.

The two hardest things in life are “hello” for the first time and “goodbye” for the last time. Vivian had many chapters in her life. She was a teacher, a mother, a caretaker, a deeply loved grandmother, and a planter of seeds. She is someone who prepared the soil, pushed seeds into soft earth, and helped bring forth miracles. She was an extraordinary lady who met all of life’s challenges with class and grace. Her love will reach through generations; maybe not here physically but always present in our hearts and minds.

Our mothers never leave us, ever. Whether it be mother or grandmother, by blood or by choice, they will always be with us. You will be deeply missed, rest well beautiful, sweet (and stubborn) Vivian.

Vivian is survived by:

• Daughter and son-in-law: Sarah and Steve Fultz
• Son and Daughter-in-law: Aaron and Maria Foster
• Grandchildren: Rebecca Foster, Torsten Davis, Hunter Foster, Annika Davis, Isak Davis and Wyatt Foster
• Great-Grandchild: Elliot Demarest-Mays
• Nieces and Nephews: Mindy, Johnathan, Danielle, Jeremy, Josh and Julie