Vivian Heikens Herbster

Vivian Heikens Herbster, 96, died in Milford, Iowa, on Monday, January 5, 2015. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, January 9, 2015, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Milford with burial to follow at Evergreen Cemetery in rural Spencer. The family will greet friends Thursday evening at St. Joseph's from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Vivian was born September 29, 1918, to Florence and Bertha Gordon in Cherokee County, Iowa. She attended Meriden Consolidated School and Mount Saint Mary's Academy in Cherokee, graduating from Meriden in 1935. After National Business School in Sioux City, she worked as a secretary in county, district, and state offices of the State of Iowa. In April 1940, she married George A. Heikens and lived in Ames and Des Moines until the summer of 1943, when they returned to George's family farm near Spencer to raise their children: George, Jr.; Kathy; and Barbara. Vivian and George shared many interests and were active in many of the same organizations. Both were 4-H leaders and members of the Parker Historical Society for which Vivian later served as a director. They were also active leaders in the Clay County Fair Association, and Vivian later became the first woman member of the Fair Board. George was a past chairman of the Clay County Democratic Party, and Vivian worked for twenty years as a precinct committee woman. They were both actively involved in efforts that saved the Clay County Court House. Vivian served as president of the Clay County Garden Club, Summit Neighbors' Study Club, Spencer Federated Woman's Club, Clay County Democratic Women, and Spencer's Grove Questers. She served as circle chairman of the altar society at Sacred Heart Catholic Church and as district Federated Garden Club director. Vivian was a nationally accredited flower show judge and nationally accredited landscape design critic since the early 1960s and an exhibitor at the Clay County Fair Flower Show for more than sixty years. She served on the Iowa Human Services Council, State Extension Advisory Committee, Governor Hughes' Iowa Tax Study Committee, and as an Iowa 4-H Foundation Trustee. She laughingly said she was probably the 'token woman' on several committees in those days. She was made an Iowa Master Farm Homemaker in 1969. From 1966 until 1973, after the children had all left for college, she worked for the Iowa State University Statistical Laboratory as an interviewer and supervisor. She was a member and director of the Lakes Art Council and was a member of Arts on Grand in Spencer. She also belonged to the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, The Nature Conservancy, and the Iowa Humanities Board. She gave countless talks and demonstrations on flower arranging, rug hooking and braiding, antiques, and the lives of famous Iowans, and she shared slides and stories of her travels to countries around the world. Vivian and George enjoyed farm life and farm work and especially took pleasure watching the development and achievements of their children and grandchildren. After George's death from cancer in 1976, Vivian remained on the farm until her marriage to Ken Herbster in 1978, after which she moved to a home on Lake Okoboji. She delighted in sharing her family with Ken, who had no children. She enjoyed new friends at the Lake, especially the members of the Women's Bible Study Group and participating in the activities of the Environment and Flower committees at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Milford. She served as secretary of the West Okoboji Trees Forever and as a Meals-On-Wheels volunteer. Prior to his death in the fall of 1997, Ken and Vivian enjoyed several trips together, including cruise ship excursions and visits to England. Later in life, Vivian actively engaged in Third Age College courses offered through Iowa Lakes Community College and was a member of the Milford Senior Friendship Club, all the while remaining active in other church and community activities. Vivian was preceded in death by her parents; husbands, George Heikens and Ken Herbster; and brother-in-law, Leo Hunt. She is survived by her three children, George (Wendy Clement) Heikens, Jr. of Temple, Texas; Kathy Christensen of Spencer, Iowa; and Barbara Heikens of Burlington, Iowa. Vivian is also survived by her grandchildren, Tom (Erin) Christensen of San Diego, California; Julie (Terry) Heiliger of Urbandale, Iowa; Lori (Jeff Hughes) Christensen of Iowa City, Iowa; and Philip (Andrea) Christensen of Tulsa, Oklahoma; Molly Holz of Helena, Montana; and Aaron Holz of Des Moines, Iowa, as well as great-grandchildren, Jacob, Joe, and Katie Heiliger; Owen and Isaac Hughes; and Abbie and George Christensen. Additionally, Vivian is survived by her sister, Norma Hunt, of Claremore, Oklahoma, and two nephews. Memorial contributions may be directed to Arts on Grand in Spencer, Iowa; the Clay County Fair Charitable Trust, also in Spencer; the Iowa State 4-H Foundation; or the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation. O Lord, support us all the day long, until the shadows Lengthen and the evening comes, and the busy world Is hushed, and the fever of life is over and our work is done. Then in thy mercy grant us a safe lodging, and a holy rest, and peace at the last.

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