Marie C. Vik

Rock Rapids, IA Marie C. Vik, age 89 of Rock Rapids, IA died Friday January 31, 2014 at Sanford Hospital in Rock Rapids, IA. Funeral service will be 1:00 PM Wednesday, February 5, 2014 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Rock Rapids with Rev. Dan Kordahl, Rev. Neil Vik and Rev. Keith Vik officiating. Burial will follow at Riverview Cemetery in Rock Rapids, IA. Visitation will be Tuesday, February 4th from 2:00 to 8:00 PM with family present from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at the Jurrens Funeral Home of Rock Rapids, IA. Marie Christine (Christiansen) Vik was born January 2, 1925 at Viborg, South Dakota to Niels and Jensine (Volhoj) Christiansen. She was baptized on May 10, 1925 and confirmed on September 9, 1939 at Bethany Lutheran Church at Viborg, South Dakota. She attended Viborg Public School for twelve years. She met Elmer M. Vik at a dance in Centerville, South Dakota. They were married on June 28, 1945. While Elmer was in the service during World War II, they lived in Charleston, South Carolina and San Francisco. They were blessed with three children: Karen, Neil, and Keith. The family moved to Rock Rapids, Iowa in 1956 where Elmer was a Salesman with the Kraft Foods Agricultural Division and Better Nutrients, Inc. for thirty-four years. After forty-seven years of marriage, her beloved husband and best friend, Elmer passed away on March 26, 1993. Marie especially enjoyed her twenty years of volunteer work for Hospice. She was a faithful member of Immanuel Lutheran Church. She served as a Sunday School teacher, Choir member, Janitor, Financial Secretary, Quilter, and Staff Support. Marie was an amazing homemaker. Her children had a great childhood and remember home being a safe and wonderful place. They have fond memories of her waiting on the front porch for them to come home from school. She loved to be in the kitchen and was happiest when cooking or baking for family, friends, or neighbors. She was known for her lefse, meatballs, pies, rolls, cookies, and birthday cakes. She was faithful, loyal, kind, considerate, pleasant, stable, and steady. She was always ready if company dropped by. Many people have enjoyed her gracious hospitality. Marie was loved by many people including her daughter Karen and her husband, Robert Reemts of Rock Rapids, and sons, Neil and his wife Sacia of Kent, WA and Keith and his wife, Angie of Ashland, WI. She is survived by her brother Roger Christiansen of Sioux Falls, SD. She was a grandmother to Jill and her husband, Mitch Thompson of Sioux Falls, SD; Mindy and her husband, Travis Johnson of Beresford, SD; John Vik and his wife, Heather of Lincoln, NE; Maren and her husband, Theodore Wolff of Coppell, TX; Adam Lehner of Kearney, NE, Kalyn Lehner of Bothell, WA, Christina, Amy, and Lani Vik of Ashland, WI; and Kiah, Erica, Anna, Andrew and his wife, Rachel Vik of Lacrosse, WI. Her great-grandchildren are Taylor and Eric Thompson of Sioux Falls, SD; Macy Johnson of Beresford, SD, Emma Vik of Lincoln, NE; and Cailin Vik of LaCrosse, WI. Marie was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Elmer; and brothers, Leroy and Jim Christiansen.