Vivian Delores Menth

Vivian Delores Menth (née Freeburg)
July 30, 1929 - May 15, 2025
Vivian Delores Freeburg was born on July 30, 1929, in St. Peter, Minnesota, to her loving parents, Edward and Helen Freeburg. Vivian grew up with her brothers, Gordon and Harold, and her sister, Ione, enjoying the atmosphere of a lovely college town. In 1946, her family moved to Grindstone, Minnesota, and she graduated from Hinkley High School with the class of 1948.
After high school, she entered nursing training at Glenwood Hills Hospital, a pioneer in psychiatric and addiction care. She shared many wild stories about her experiences with patients there. During her residency, she caught the eye of Joe Menth, a charming and confident engineering student at the University of Minnesota.
Joe and Viv were married in 1950. They started married life living in Joe's parents' basement, welcoming Joe Jr. in 1951 and Steve in 1952. They built and moved into their home in Bloomington in late October 1952. Steve was born in September, so Joe Jr. and Steve slept on a floor bed until their dad built them a bunk bed. In 1954 when their son Tom came along, Joe and Viv converted the double bunks into a triple and staked two dressers on top of one another to make room for everyone. Although space was tight, it was a happy home. The family met many long-time friends there.
When they bought their first brand new car, they built a garage to house it. Unfortunately, Vivian totaled that car shortly after the garage's completion. No worries though, as the garage soon housed their first fancy boat, a Starcraft they named Merri Lee (predecessor to the Merri Lee Too, and the Merri Lee Phase III). The Merri Lee would become central to many vacations and camping trips to Canada and other great lakes.
In 1961, after Joe began working in Fridley, Joe and Viv designed and built a home there. Their daughter Lee Anne arrived in 1966, and as her brothers will tell you, was spoiled in every way. The home at 147 Chesney Way would be central to joyful gatherings for decades. These included annual Christmas Eve celebrations that filled the house with the extended Menth clan, great food, warm laughter, and lots of love. So many of us carry those memories in our hearts.
Viv was a strong woman of faith. The Church of Saint William was central to her life, especially the small prayer group that blossomed into her dearest friendships. She was fascinated by theology and the meaning of the Bible, taking courses to learn all she could. She lived her faith by volunteering her time and talents to her community and offered loving kindness to everyone she met.
Vivian was a person of limitless creativity. She was a talented artist, studying and practicing painting and sculpture. She wrote poems of events to evoke laughter and mirth. She loved to garden and adored flowers, especially roses, but also the simple beauty of daisies and sunflowers.
Viv and Joe shared sixty-five wonderful years raising their family and enjoying time with their many friends. At their cabin on Big Winnie, Viv would impishly out-fish Joe regularly, and together they would host visitors and fish fries too numerous to count.
In 1989, they began bringing their adult kids and spouses on trips to Mexico. On the beaches and streets of Mazatlán and other Mexican towns, the family would reconnect, soaking in the sun and sharing nightly dinners of seafood and storytelling. It was an amazing gift.
Vivian thoroughly enjoyed time with her eleven grandchildren, often taking them out for special treats and trips to the park. In time, she would welcome twenty great grandchildren, and she loved each and every one.
Viv was a true adventurer. She would often travel with Joe on his business trips, and while Joe was working, she would venture off on her own on the subways and get fearlessly lost in places like Harlem or the outskirts of Paris. She went to Sweden and met several of her distant relatives and was able to see her great grandfather's burial location.
After losing Joe in 2015, Vivian moved into a senior apartment, where she found friendships, activities, and outings. She moved in with Lee Anne during the pandemic of 2020, before her final residence at Amira Choice in Forest Lake. Her family would like to extend the warmest thanks to the compassionate and competent care "Vivvie" received from the staff of both Amira and Ecumen Hospice, who treated her for over two and a half years. What a blessing!
Vivian is now reunited with her parents, Ed and Helen Freeburg; her loving husband, Joe, of 65 years; her beloved son, Joe; her infant son, Richard; and so many more. She leaves behind her grateful children: Steve (Lori), Tom (Sue), Lee Anne (Tim Brockman), daughter-in-law Joan, and grandchildren Mindy, Shelle, Jeff, Katie, Jill, Patrick, Joe, Denielle, Taylor, Resa, and Tommy. She also leaves behind beloved great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and numerous family and friends. She will be greatly missed!
Please join us for a celebration of her life. Visitation: June 12, 3-6 p.m., Washburn-McReavy Seman Chapel, 1827 Coon Rapids Blvd., Coon Rapids 55433 Funeral: June 13, 11 am, Church of St. William, 6120 5th Street, Fridley, 55432 with lunch following. Interment at Fort Snelling on June 25th at 10:15 a. m. You are encouraged to wear clothes with flowers or bright colors in her honor.