Vivian V. Thomas

Vivian Violet Thomas, 101, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, February 27, 2024, after a long life as a devoted mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great-grandmother.    Viv’s greatest joy was her family and she was never happier than when a baby was in her arms.

Viv was born on May 22, 1922, in Butternut Township to Roy and Elma (Rollings) Etherington, delivered at home by her grandmother, Sarah Jane (Jennie) Rollings.   She contracted meningitis as a child, which took the majority of her hearing and she wore hearing aids for over 50 years.  At age 72 she received a cochlear implant, which opened up her world.  

Viv was known for being a hard worker all her life, graduating from 8^th grade at the Vernon Center school in 1937 and starting a job the next morning to help her family.

 She married Robert J. Thomas on May 14, 1941, and they lived their entire married life in Lake Crystal.   They had four children, Sharon (Will) Peterson, Steve (Beverly) Thomas, Kathryn Wilking and Peg (Denise Colvey) Thomas.    Viv was always the best Mom – and never failed to make anyone’s favorite meal or dessert if they were coming to visit.

Viv is survived by her four children; brothers, Bob (LaVon) Etherington and Jerry (Judy) Etherington; sister-in-law, Roberta Etherington; eight grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

Preceded in death by her parents; husband; brothers, Edgar and Ralph; sisters, Berneatha Roberts and Bonnie Beth; son-in-law, Tom Wilking and special friend, James K. “Bunk” Roberts.

She brought so much joy to our lives.  We will miss her never-ending love and sense of humor.

Funeral Service will be 2 p.m., Sunday, March 3, 2024, at First Presbyterian Church in Lake Crystal.   Visitation will be one hour before the service at the church.  Private Interment will be in Jerusalem Cemetery, rural Lake Crystal.  Lake Crystal Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

The live stream link below is a complimentary service provided by

Mankato Area Funeral Homes.

Unforeseen technical, internet, facility, and/or acoustical circumstances may produce a diminished end product. Please note, if the live stream does not appear, we are attempting to record and publish the service for later viewing.