Viva Thomas

Viva A. Thomas, 101, Frazee, MN, formerly of St. Paul, MN, died Sunday at the Frazee Care Center. Funeral services will be 2:00 PM Wednesday, December 7 at the Rose Lawn Cemetery Chapel, St. Paul, MN. Friends may call at the chapel 1 hour prior to the service on Wednesday. Viva A. Thomas was born November 28, 1910 in St. Paul, MN to E. Lee and Viva (Harrington) Howard. As a young girl, she attended a private school and then graduated from Maplewood Academy in St. Paul where she studied the mechanical arts. Viva began working at the age of 14. She and her sisters traveled the country operating a concession stand at all the important events. She was united in marriage to Ray Thomas in 1935 who she met in St. Louis while operating a concession stand at a large horse show. The couple made their home in St. Paul where they operated a gift shop on Rice Street. After a few years, they operated a service station at 66th and Nicollet in Minneapolis and were distributors for Shell Oil. They owned a fleet of trucks and delivered fuel oil to homes in the area. In 1947, Viva started working in a millinery where she used her artistic skills making and selling hats. She also worked at the Field Slick Department Store. That same year, she and Ray built the home she would live in until moving to the Frazee Care Center in March, 2011. After Viva and Ray sold the oil business, they started a small grocery store with their brother-in-law, Jess Bisonette and operated it until Ray's death in 1962. Viva then worked as the manager of a gift shop for the next 10 years. Viva was well known for her artistic skills and, because of this, she got to know many prominent people in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area. In addition to her husband, Ray, she was preceded in death by her parents, 3 brothers: Louis, Lee, John and 3 sisters: Elnora, Jane and Ann. David-Donehower Funeral Home is serving the family. Memories may be shared online at www.daviddonehower.com.

Funeral Home: David Donehower Funeral Home 609 Hwy 10 East Detroit Lakes, MN US 56501

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Previous Events

Visitation
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Service
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
cemetery
Wednesday, December 7, 2011

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