Vivian Adeline Smith, 88

On Tuesday, December 16, 2008, Vivian Adeline Smith of Rainy River, Ontario, went to be with her Lord, at the age of 88 years.
Vivian was born on April 21, 1920 to parents John Victor (JV) Smith and Ruth Ericson in Minnedosa, Manitoba. She moved to Rainy River with her family as a small girl.
She is survived by her brother Calvin Smith.
She was predeceased by her parents and brothers John Wesley, Donald, Russell, Gordon and Victor.
Vivian was a teenager when God “gloriously saved” her. Vivian devoted the rest of her life to her Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. At the age of 23, year 1943, she founded the Rainy River Evangelical Covenant Church. She attended Prairie Bible Institute in Three Hills, Alberta and served with Northern Gospel Mission in Redby, MN. She served as a missionary in the Rainy River District for over three decades with CSSM Ministries. She taught Religious Education in area schools, conducted Bible classes in her home, taught Sunday School at church, conducted Vacation Bible Schools in area communities and conducted Bible Camps at Sunny Cove Camp in Fort Frances.
1Corinthians 4:2 was Vivian’s life verse: “Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.” Vivian sought to prove herself faithful to the Lord’s trust that was placed upon her life. Vivian was particularly fond of children and loved to teach them the precious love of Jesus by precept and example.
She deeply admired the beauty of God’s creation, especially flowers, and had extravagant flower gardens around her house on Sixth Street every summer. She especially loved roses.
Vivian was a friend to virtually everyone she met. She would always seek to minister to the otherwise unreached, the downcast and lonely, the oppressed and afflicted. Those who had the least to offer Vivian in exchange for her kindness would be those she was constrained to reach out to.
Funeral services were held at 10:00 am on Friday, December 19, 2008 at the Rainy River Evangelical Covenant Church with Mark Mast officiating.
Committal at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Rainy River, Ontario followed the service.
In lieu of flowers, it is kindly requested that donations be made to CSSM Ministries or Rainy River Evangelical Covenant Church. C/O Mark & Tina Mast, PO Box #111, Rainy River, ON P0W-1L0
Online condolences may be left at www.northridgefuneralhome.com
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