HURON — Vivian M. Allen, 99, of Huron, passed away Friday, June 30, 2023, at Avantara Huron.

Her Memorial Service will be held 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 23, at American Lutheran Church. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service on Saturday morning at the church. Burial will be held at Black Hills National Cemetery in Sturgis at a later date. Memorials may be made in Vivian’s name to the Christian Learning Center in Huron.

Vivian May was born on May 8, 1924, in Melvin, Iowa to parents Peter and Johanna (DeFries) Knapp. She grew up in Sibley, Iowa, graduating from Sibley High School in 1942. Vivian attended North West Medical Technology School in Minneapolis, Minn. She moved to California in 1942 and then New Jersey in 1944 where she worked at Somerset Hospital in Somerville. She returned to Iowa where she worked at the Sibley Hospital. Vivian got the travel bug as a young girl, traveling with her parents to her uncle’s ranch in western Nebraska, Northern Minnesota and the Ozark Mountains.

She married Carl Leo Thrash in Sibley, Iowa on Nov. 3, 1946. To this union, six children were born. The family moved to Huron in 1952. The young family traveled to New Jersey, Los Angeles and many Black Hills trips. Highlights of those trips included staying in log cabins and traveling on gravel roads. In 1981, Carl passed away.

In 1985, Vivian married Thomas Allen and gained two stepchildren and once again traveling gave Viv and Tom many happy memories. She loved to see the National Parks. She and Tom saw all 50 states in 10 years. She also loved to journal about their adventures. They were proud members of the Huron Rover Camping Club.

Vivian was active in the Boys and Girls Scouts. Her faith was important to her, she was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith. She was a member of the American Lutheran Church where she taught Sunday School, Church Circles, and volunteered for 33 years at the Christian Learning Center. She was also in the Huron Lioness Club for over 35 years. Vivian’s father taught her how to play pinochle in junior high school and she continued to play for over 80 years.

Vivian is survived by her children, Doug Thrash (Abbie) of Rapid City, Susan Thrash (Joe) of Minneapolis, Joanne (Ray) Phelan of Buffalo Grove, Ill., Pete (Yvette) Thrash of Aberdeen and Paul (Brenda) Thrash of Elkhart, Ind.; stepchildren, Martie (Larry) Wineger of Arizona, Thomas (Toni) Allen, Jr., of Florida; 11 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husbands, Carl and Thomas; her son, Howard Thrash in infancy; four sisters Marion, Evelyn, Elsie and Ardyce; and two brothers, Lawrence and Austie.

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