- Date Of Birth: November 27, 1961
- Date Of Death: April 14, 2015
- State: Michigan
Vivian Teresa Johnson Skaug, daughter of the prairie, died unexpectedly of a heart attack early morning April 14, 2015 at the age of 53.
Vivian was born to Kermit and Jo Ann Weaver Johnson on November 27, 1961 in Mandan, North Dakota. She was the seventh of eight children. Her formative years were spent on the family farm in Perkins County South Dakota where she developed many of the talents and hobbies that she would exhibit throughout her life.
Viv spent many hours helping on the family farm. Her great love was working with and riding horses. During her high school career, she was very active in the community, showing incredible aptitude in homemaking skills by winning 4H awards for sewing and finishing first runner up in the Junior Miss North Dakota Pageant. She excelled in school, both in the classroom and on the track, graduating valedictorian of her class in Reeder High School and holding numerous state track records.
Vivian began her collegiate education at Brigham Young University in Provo, UT. It was here that she committed to be baptized and became a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Returning to South Dakota, she married Jim Thormodsgard on May 9, 1981. To this union were born four children, Nathan, Daniel, Jessica, and Justine. Vivian rejoiced in her role as a mother, and poured all of her energies into raising her children and creating a warm and welcoming home. In 1994, Vivian moved to South Dakota to further her education. She earned a Bachelor’s Degree with honors in Chemical Engineering from South Dakota School of Mines & Technology. During this time, she juggled the demands of caring for her family and her school courses, often at great personal sacrifice. While at SDSM&T, Vivian met Nils Skaug and they were married on August, 1997. They welcomed two more children into the family, Nils Erik and Anne Christine.
Upon completion of her Bachelor’s Degree, she accepted a position with The Dow Chemical Company in Midland, Michigan. Vivian took great pride in her work and served the company faithfully for 12 years, filling roles in process automation, SARAN, and engineering for Dow’s wastewater management systems. In April 2014, Vivian made the decision to retire from Dow in order to spend more time with her growing family. Nothing brought her more happiness than spending time with her children and grandsons, Sawyer (Nathan and Caitlin), Quinn, and Luke (Daniel and Erin). In October of the same year, Vivian accepted the exciting challenge of consulting for Omni-Tech.
Vivian was a woman who loved much and that love touched all those who knew her.
Her kindness continues to live on through her family: Nathan Thormodsgard (Caitlin) of Casper ,WY, Daniel Thormodsgard (Erin) of Miles City, MT, Jessica Black (Chris) of Highland, UT, Justine Belden (Blake) of Oakland, CA, Nils Erik Skaug, of Midland, MI and Anne Christine Skaug of Midland, MI. She will also be sorely missed by her surviving siblings: Luann (David) Zuercher of Pierre, SD, Kathy (Doyle Estes) Johnson of Hill City, SD, Iris Pettit of Kaysville, UT, Barb Johnson (sister-in-law) of Reeder, ND, Von (Noreen) Johnson of Belfiend, ND, Lorell (Kenny) Greni of Dickinson, ND, John Everett Johnson of Reeder, ND as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins, and countless friends. Vivian is proceeded in death by her father Kermit Johnson, mother Jo Ann Weaver, and brother Kermit “Kit” Johnson.
