Vivian R. Randall

Vivian R. Randall, 95, of Great Falls, MT, passed away peacefully into the arms of Jesus on Sunday, March 4, 2018 at a local care facility. A public Visitation will be held Tomorrow, Thursday, March 8, from 5-8 PM in the Rose Room Chapel at Croxford Funeral Home. A Private burial will take place the following day at Highland Cemetery in Great Falls. At a later date, service information will be available for a Celebration of Life.

Vivian was born on September 26, 1922, at Uniontown Hospital in Fayette County, PA to parents Samuel Wallace Reed and Della Augusta Fuehrer. In her youth she attended the Presbyterian Church where she enjoyed participating in the youth group. She attended school in West Leisenring, PA, later graduating from North Union High School in 1940. For the next two years, Vivian worked for her father at the USPS office in West Leisenring. In 1942 she began working for H.C. Frick Coke Company in the Stationary department, and she was the first woman hired to be in that position.

In 1944 during WWII, Vivian met and fell in love with a young sailor who was visiting the Reed family while on a weekend pass from his tour in the Pacific Theater of War. They married later that year on October 28 at the West Leisenring Presbyterian Church. They moved to Philadelphia, PA where they began what would be 42 wonderful years together, blessed by the addition of two sons and one daughter. After having been proudly discharged from his tour of duty in 1946, Marvin and Vivian moved their family to Great Falls, MT where they raised their family and lived out their days. After some constant persuasion from their first son Mahlon, Vivian and Marvin got hooked on the Stock Car Racing bug after attending a race. Marvin began building cars and racing them with Vivian as his number one fan. Over the next seventeen years, she never missed a race.

While she was raising the kids, Vivian did not work. In 1967, when the kids were old enough, Vivian did return to the workforce and took a job working for a general dentist and later for an oral surgeon. She retired in 1984 at the young age of just 62. Sadly, her beloved husband Marvin had an untimely passing on January 4, 1987 at the age of 67.

Family and stock car racing were Vivian’s two highest priorities throughout life. She was a diehard race fan for more than 75 years. She also made time to serve with the Salvation Army Ladies’ Auxillary and enjoy her love for flowers with memorable times spent gardening.

Vivian was preceded in passing by her parents, Samuel and Della Reed; husband, Marvin Randall; son, Mahlon; and daughter, Dana.   

She is survived by her son, Reed (Linda) Randall of Great Falls; daughter-in-law, Jean Randall of Big Fork, MT; son-in-law, LeRoy Clapshaw of Great Falls, MT; grandchildren, Lorie Clapshaw Lacher (Tom Earl), Kerry Randall-Schei (Marty Gusick), Guy (Debbie) Clapshaw, Donald (Katie) Randall of MN, Kris (Elaine) Randall of Helena, MT; great-grandchildren, Alayna Lacher of Billings, MT, Haylee Clapshaw of Great Falls, MT, Morgan Clapshaw of Billings, MT, Cody Schei of Great Falls, MT, Mary and Maggie Randall both of MN.

The family would like to give special thanks and acknowledge the staff at The Lodge for their caring love for Vivian over the past three and a half years.

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