Vivian Bill

Vivian Bill, age 89, of Grand Forks, passed away on Monday, May 16, 2016 at Woodside Village in Grand Forks.

Vivian T. Bolstad was born February 15, 1927 to Gladys (Lee) and the late Nels Bolstad (who died before Vivian was born). She was raised by her loving parents Gladys and Harland Norvald. She married Lawrence P. Bill in 1948. They lived together on the West Coast between Oregon, Washington and California while Lawrence was in the Navy. They moved to Larimore in 1957 until moving to Lakota in 1971 where they ran the Lakota Hotel until 1978. Vivian went back to college in her 50’s and graduated from UND with a Master’s Degree in Counseling in 1987. She was elected to the Mortar Board which is the oldest Women’s Honor Society in the US. They moved to Williston where she went on to become a Clinical Licensed Professional Counselor. She was named mental health counselor of the year in 1999. She served on the board of the mental health counselors for years. Vivian was a member of NDPEA, NDCA, NDMHCA, and MHAND. She was also a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, DAV Auxiliary, VFW Auxiliary, Order of the Eastern Star, American Association of University Women, UND Alumni, AMVETS and the Fleet Reserve Association.

Vivian loved gardening, flowers, birds, reading great books, cats, horses and being with her grandchildren.

Vivian is survived by her children: Donna (Simon) Laturnus, Cando; Lawrence Bill, Jr., Larimore; Darlean Karna, Lakota; Kathleen (Chris) Both, Grand Forks; grandchildren: David Gibbons, Jr, Tom Karna, Kris (Myra) Karna, Rachel Karna, Alexis (Adam) Trout, Erin (Stuart Ferry) Severson, Abigail Severson, Brittany (Dan) Lowry, Eli Bill and Adam Bill; and great grandchildren: Madison and Alivia Karna, McKenna Karna, Laila, Zeke and Asher Trout; Nora Ferry and Greyson Lowry; sisters; Anna (Obie) Hagge, Darlean Ashley; and brother: Lavern (MaryAnn) Norvald, and several nieces and nephews.


She was preceded in death by her father Nels Bolstad, parents Gladys and Harland Norvald, husband Lawrence Bill, daughter Dianne and son Harland (Frankie) Bill, brothers Oscar and Melvin Bolstad and Gene Norvald.

FUNERAL SERVICES: 2:00 p.m. Saturday, May 21, 2016 at Elm Grove Lutheran Church of rural McCanna, ND.

INTERMENT: Elm Grove Church Cemetery.

VISITATION: Friday, May 20 from 6-7 p.m. with a 7 p.m. prayer service held in the Bakke Funeral Home of Larimore. Visitation will also be for one hour prior to the service in the church Saturday.