Vivian Binder of Caro, age 95, passed away on Thursday, March 1, 2018 at the Tuscola County Medical Care Facility in Caro. Vivian was born February 1, 1923 in Gaylord, the daughter of the late William and Ruby (Acker) Bennett. She was united in marriage with Lester Binder on August 27, 1949, and he preceded her in death on April 10, 1998. Vivian was known for her feisty personality and mischievous grin. She loved her family and took great pride in her four children’s accomplishments. As a grandmother, she enjoyed laughing with her grandchildren and bragging about them to others. Vivian was masterful in the kitchen and took great pride in cooking favorite dishes for family and friends. In later years, favorite pastimes included weekly trips to Jan’s Beauty Cottage, flipping through catalogs on her porch, and bird watching. Vivian farmed her whole life, growing up in a large family and later side by side with her husband, Lester. Earlier in her life, Vivian worked at both Stanley’s and Trudeau’s Bakeries, as well as Cline’s Machine Shop during World War II. One of her many legacies was teaching her children and grandchildren the meaning of hard work.
Vivian is survived by three children, Mark and Nancy Binder of Caro, Peggy Binder of St. Clair Shores, Suzanne Novak and Tom DeMint of Seattle, Washington; daughter-in-law, Lue Binder of Brighton; grandchildren and their spouses, Scott and Amanda Binder, Sabrina and Peter Maggio, Shannon and Robert Friess, Melissa and Philip Szcygiel, Molly and Anthony Lucio, Ben Novak; nine great-grandchildren; siblings: Pauline Wallace of Mayville, Orson and Jean Bennett of Lakeland, Florida; sister-in-law, Arlene Bennett of Mount Clemens; and many nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents and husband, Vivian was preceded in death by one son, Lester “Skip” Binder in 2013; and the remainder of her siblings and their spouses, Eleanor and Glen Tuggle, Lee and Maxine Bennett, Fern Jacobs, Bernice and Leeland Poole, Bonnie Jean and William Siems, Cecil Wallace, Mary and Harold Youmans, and William Bennett.
In keeping with Vivian’s wishes, cremation has taken place. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 17, 2018 at the Ransford Collon Funeral Home in Caro with Rev. Michele Hile officiating. The family will be present to receive friends at the funeral home on Saturday from 10 a.m. until the time of the service at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked for donations to be made in Vivian’s name to the Tuscola County Medical Care Community or the Translational Science Fund at Michigan State University to continue research on Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases. The family was assisted with these arrangements by the Ransford Collon Funeral Home of Caro. Friends may share memories, thoughts and prayers online at www.RansfordCollon.com.
