Vivian Christena Norton Franklin

November 05, 1918 - March 16, 2015

Vivian Christena Norton Franklin Obituary (Age 96) Vivian was born to Christena (Neilsen) and George Albert Norton on November 5, 1918. She grew up on a farm in Lovell, Wyoming. Vivian graduated with the Class of 1936 from Lovell High School. In her hometown, she worked as a switchboard operator for the Bell Telephone Company. As a young woman, she moved to Sacramento, California and began working at Del Monte Packing Company in the payroll department. In 1944, at a USO dance she attracted the notice of a young soldier named James "Jim" Franklin. They were married January 2, 1945. Ten years later they were sealed in the Latter-day Saint, Idaho Falls Temple. They had four children George, Janie, Benjamin, and Bonnie. This marriage ended in divorce. Vivian began working as a customer service representative for the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD), from which she retired. She was very bright, she furthered her education at American River College, and in her eighties, she took computer classes at Sacramento State College. She read voraciously, a love she instilled in her four children. Vivian was the secretary for the Republican Women's Organization in Sacramento for several years. She was also a lifelong member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, having served as a Sunday School teacher, a building librarian, Stake Employment Specialist and Stake Missionary. Vivian loved Sacramento and lived there for over 60 years. She especially loved her beautiful, large garden and her small, fruitful orchard. She moved to Casper, Wyoming to live near her daughter, Janie. Later, when Janie moved, she joined her daughter once more, this time in Spokane, Washington, taking up residence at the Riverview Terrace, where she fully enjoyed the last four years of her life. She is survived by her brother Earl Norton of Lovell. Also, her children George (Pat) Franklin of Stephenville, Texas, Janie (Reed) Roberts of Gilbert, AZ, Benjamin (Diana) Franklin of Durham, North Carolina, and Bonnie Pulsipher of Portland, Oregon, 16 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews. Vivian was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers, John, LeGrande "Con", Virl, Elwood "Tony," and Lemar Norton, sister, Aurelia Beddes, son-in-law, William Pulsipher, and granddaughter, Liahona Franklin. There will be a viewing at 10:00 am, March 31, 2015, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, located at 50 West Main St., Lovell, WY. The funeral service, officiated by Bishop Mike Jones will follow at 11:00 am. Interment will be in the Lovell Cemetery.