STURGIS - Vivian Gladys Abel, 84, died Monday, Oct. 22, 2007, at Judy's Assisted Living in Belle Fourche, where she had lived for the past three years.

Visitation will be from noon to 4 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 30, at the Kinkade Funeral Chapel in Sturgis. Funeral services will be at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 30, at the United Methodist Church in Sturgis, with Pastor Gordon Higgins officiating. The memorial service will be followed by dinner at the church. Interment will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 31, at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis. Friends may gather at Kinkade Funeral Chapel prior to leaving for the cemetery.

Vivian was born Sept. 16, 1923, in Spearfish, to Zelia Rhoda Vina (Miller) and Henry Adam Nearhood Jr. She grew up on her parents' homestead at Cedar Canyon, where she was christened on August 16, 1925. She attended country school there for eight years; there were often only a few children in her class. She went to 2nd grade at her teacher's house because she was the only student in the school. After attending Stoneville High School for one year, the family moved to Sturgis, where she graduated in 1941. Vivian married Darel M. Abel, a soldier at Ft. Meade, on Nov. 1, 1941, at the Methodist Church in Sturgis. They lived in Sturgis until 1943, when the 4th Cavalry moved out. From then until 1963, Vivian and her husband moved with their military assignments, which took them to live in six states (GA, MD, TN, SD, TX, KY) and gave them two tours in Germany (Butzbach and Nuernberg.) After 26 years, during which she was an exceptional military wife, Vivian and Darel retired from the Army and returned home to Sturgis, where she lived until 2005.

As a Girl Scout leader for 35 years, Vivian was responsible for establishing Girl Scouting in several Scout-less communities. Throughout that time, she served for a number of years as a trainer, the Sturgis Cookie Chairman, the Neighborhood Chairman, the keeper of the Scout Hall facility, and she was on the Black Hills Girl Scout Council Board of Directors. Vivian was also involved with Camp Friendship of the Black Hills, a camp for the developmentally disabled, where she was famous for her homemade root beer. She was a member if the VFW, American Legion, and DAV Auxiliaries. For nearly 20 years, Vivian was a diligent AVON sales representative. Vivian was also involved with numerous Sturgis Community Theatre productions.

Vivian is survived by her daughters, Bonnie Alberts (Bob Raatz), Sturgis, and Kimm Abel Lischefska (Aaron Lischefska), Sturgis; a son-in-law, Ron Douglas, Sturgis; three granddaughters, Stephanie Alberts/Weber (Rich Weber), Elko, NV, Brenna Meyer (Brian Meyer), Spearfish, and Brittany Douglas, Sturgis; and four great-grandsons, Bryton Douglas and Breckin, and Bridger, and Brason Meyer.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Darel; two sisters, Vina Sperle and Violette Alexander; her daughter, Betty Lou Douglas; and her grandson, Marc Douglas.

Vivian is loved by the many people she influenced through the practice of her Girl Scout values, Christian principles and practical sensibilities.

A memorial has been established.