Vivian Inez Osborn

Vivian Osborn died December 23, 2017 at the Graham County Hospital. She was 96 years old. Vivian was born February 22, 1921 to Waldemar and Inez (Johnson) Hedlund of McPherson, Kansas. She was one of eight children: her twin sister, Virginia; sisters: Alice and Betty; brothers: Arnold, Virgil, Leonard and Carl. Growing up with seven siblings on a farm, gave Vivian a great love for family and nature. That love never left Vivian. After graduating from McPherson High School in 1939, she worked at the McPherson County Abstract Office and at the McPherson County District Court. On July 8, 1945 she married Chester W. Osborn on the family farmstead. Since he was employed by ExxonMobil, they lived in several locations, moving to Hill City in August 1966, and living there the rest of their lives. Vivian was always active with family, church and community activities. In addition to her busy life of volunteering, she was the secretary in the Graham County Extension Office, Kansas-Nebraska Gas Company and the Methodist Church. She was also involved in many organizations including the Helianthus Club, Graham County FCE, VFW Auxiliary Post #8957 and the Town and Country Square Dance Club. She was very active member of the Hill City Christian Church. As a young girl, she rode bicycles and she continued riding a bicycle every chance she had. When Vivian found the time to relax, she would go fishing. She loved to fish with anyone that would go with her. After their retirement, Chet and Vivian did some travelling they had put on hold for years. One special trip was an Alaskan cruise and on their Fiftieth Anniversary, a Caribbean Cruise. As Vivian became less active and needed help to stay in her own home, a caregiver, Margaret Nescher with her husband, Steve began taking care of Vivian. Vivian called her Margie and they became very close friends. Preceding her in death were her husband Chester, March 31, 2005; her parents; four brothers: Arnold, Virgil, Leonard and Carl Hudlund and her sister Alice Burkholder. Left to mourn her passing are her daughter, Pat and husband Gary Cook of Shelton, Washington; her son, Curtis of Hill City; her twin sister, Virginia Mitchell of McPherson and her sister, Betty Quarnstrom of Topeka; grandchildren: Andrea Cook and husband, Bill Piggott of Tacoma, Washington and Nicole Ann Sandoval and husband Jose of Ness City; great grandchildren: Amelie and Ennea Piggott-Cook of Tacoma, Washington and Jose Jr. and Jonathan Sandoval of Ness City. All who were privileged to know Vivian will remember her as a gracious, kind lady. She was always interested in what others had to stay and made strangers feel as though they were dear friends. Vivian, you will be dearly missed by your family, friends, church and community. Thank you for making our lives so much brighter.