Mrs. Margaret Lyman Van Vactor

Margaret Lyman Van Vactor passed away peacefully on Sunday, March 10, 2013, at 2:00PM at the A & W Care Home in Walnut Creek, CA. Family members and caregivers were with her at the time of her death. The official cause of death was vascular dementia. She was 96 years old. Margaret was born the 5th of six children on September 8, 1916, in Spearfish, SD, to William and Laura (Williamson) Lyman. Her upbringing, early schooling, high school, and college were all in Spearfish. She then moved to Rapid City, SD, where she taught elementary school until 1937, when she married the Reverend Glenn Ellis Van Vactor. As their family started to grow, they served Congregational churches throughout SD, then accepted an offer to serve the Holladay Church in Salt Lake City, UT in 1959. In 1962, it was on to California for the young family, where Margaret attended San Jose State University to receive her Ca. teaching credential. She taught elementary school in San Jose and later became a reading specialist in Campbell. Margaret retired in 1977 and continued to live in the San Francisco Bay Area near her 3 children, their families, and many friends until her death. One of the most significant highlights of Margaret's life was the family cabin she, Glenn, and a multitude of helpers planned, built ,and enjoyed in beautiful Spearfish Canyon in the Black Hills of SD starting in1950. She was able to spend almost every summer there with family and friends, always working on one project or another, until the cabin was sold in 2011 to help cover the expenses for her care. Margaret's survivors include her three children: Lyman (Ginny) of Tracy, CA, Yvonne (Luis Lopez) of San Ramon, CA, and David of Palo Alto, CA; four grandchildren: Julie (Jay Sturla) of Gilroy, CA, Larry (Jane) of Alpine, UT, Beverly Cardona (David Renshaw) of Tracy, CA, and Patty Cardona Sidiaren (Lindy) of Tracy, CA; six great-grandchildren: Rany, Syrel, Xavier, Xienna, Aria, and Kyrie; and former daughter-in-law Dianne of Sandy, UT. She is also survived by her sister, Laura (Lyman) West of Sheridan, CO. Margaret was preceded in death by husband Glenn and 4 of her siblings: Robert, John, and Richard Lyman, and Eleanor (Lyman) Acheson. In lieu of flowers, Margaret requested that donations be made to Habitat for Humanity and/or the Alzheimer's Association. Contact information can be found on the home page of this notice.