Vivian Kilwein, 92, New England, died on Tuesday, March 12, 2024 at St. Benedict’s Health Center, Dickinson. Vivian’s Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m., Friday, April 12, 2024 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, New England with Fr. Dennis Schafer as celebrant. Inurnment will take place at 1 p.m., CT, Monday, April 15, 2024 at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan. Visitation will be on Thursday, April 11, 2024 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the church with a rosary and vigil at 7 p.m. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the Mass at the church on Friday.
Vivian Veronica Rodrigues the daughter of Edward and Frances (Andrade) Rodrigues was born January 1, 1932 in Oakland, CA. There she attended school and graduated salutatorian in her class. She worked at a bank in Oakland. Vivian met Frank Kilwein while he was in service. On November 14, 1955 they were married in California. Frank brought Vivian back to North Dakota to be a farm wife. Frank told Vivian if she did not like North Dakota he would move back to California with her. Vivian liked ND so they stayed. The couple lived in New England in a house that Frank was remodeling until it fell through the basement in 1962. They moved to an apartment until Frank and some of his local buddies and his dad, John, built a new home. In 1974, they purchased a farmstead west of New England where they resided until their death. Vivian and her husband farmed southwest of New England. She also worked at K & K Construction as a secretary.
Vivian loved trips back to California to see her family along with other trips to different relatives. Vivian’s favorite color was yellow. She loved to have coffee at the local business with her friends. She loved playing cards, pinochle, and solitare, crossword puzzles, bowling, and reading the Star, US and Enquirer magazines. She even saved several blue dots for luck. Vivian also liked gambling and always had the good luck blue dots with her, which worked for her, because she won a good handful of times. She loved to eat out. She liked gardening and watching old movies and cowboy movies. Vivian, “Vava” meaning grandmother in Portuguese, will be remembered for her spitfire personality, to-the-point, detailed, sarcastic self. She always said what was on her mind and everybody loved her more for that.
Vivian is survived by her son, Steven (Mary) Kilwein, Bismarck, daughter, Francine (Allan) Koffler, New England, grandchildren, Jessie Bautz, Tiffaney (Mathew) Dolechek, Cloe, Tess, Christian Kilwein; step-children, Amanda Koffler, Eric (Ashley) Koffler, and April (Louis) Harrera; sisters and brothers-in-law, Ralph and Berdine Flyberg, New England, Melven and Marsella Flyberg, Washington, Maryeva Pope, Idaho; one great-granddaughter, Emily Elizebeth; four step-great-grandkids, Aiden LittleOwl, Alex, Gavin and Kalia Koffler; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 65 years, Frank Kilwein (2020); her parents; brothers, Julius and Edward Rodrigues; sisters, Mary Deandrade, Stella McTeer, Elsi Balbi, and Albina Gordon; brothers and sisters-in-law, Delores (Kilwein) Rodrigues, Pauline and Robert Robins, Hank Pope, Chuck McTeer, Joe Balbi, Joe Deandrade, Leroy, and Elenor Kilwein; and Godchild, Patti (Frank) Kilwein.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to: New England St. Mary’s Catholic Church or the New England Lion’s Club.
P.S. We Love You Mom “Vava”
Tell Dad we love him too!!
Love Steve, Francine & Family
