Vivian Arlene Wells Swain

Vivian Arlene Wells Swain was born in a state of great excitement on February 1st, 1926, in Denver, Colorado. Her father George Wells was away working, and her mother Elva Wells was alone during a snowstorm with her toddler sister Genevieve. A neighboring couple heard cries for help, and came quickly to assist but found Vivian was already born. She was born prematurely but healthy. After the doctor finally arrived, he proclaimed that the Wells had a new baby boy and sent word to George to come home. Her father George ran home 3 miles to get there, where he quickly found that the doctor was mistaken and that he had a beautiful baby girl. Because she was born early, she needed extra care, but Vivian quickly thrived. She survived an operation as an infant for Bovine Tuberculosis, a condition now easily treated with antibiotics.

She was the second of 5 children, Genevieve, Vivian, Kenneth, Marillyn, and Joyce. They moved to Bingham Canyon, Utah in her early childhood. Living in a booming mining town had its unique challenges. On mining blast days, they would leave their homes, which proved to be a smart idea when one day a boulder came through the wall of their dining room. Times were hard. It was the great depression, and they were considered fortunate children because they got one stick of gum a week. As a child, her birthday present was a cake, and if she was lucky, it might have frosting. Even though the aftereffects of the Spanish flu, polio, measles and scarlet fever epidemics made for hard times, she always looked at the bright side of life.

Turning to her family and building friendships within her community came naturally to her.

Vivian loved school and was a gifted student. She played the flute, violin and other instruments. She played sports and was in The Minerette Club. During high school she met the love of her life, Howard Lowell Swain. Life quickly changed from the depression to World War 2. Her friends, brother Kenneth and the entire male senior year willingly joined the military. Howard, her future husband, joined the Navy. She wrote to him every day, always keeping him updated about life at home. She graduated in 1944 and started working as a Rosie the Riveter repairing airplanes for the war effort at Hill Airforce Base in Ogden Utah. She quickly advanced to working on the engines of the planes and repairing motors. When the war ended, she used her typing skills to help with paperwork for the troops who were coming home. Even though the war was hard on everyone, she made friends and kept an upbeat attitude. When she was asked about the war, she said times were hard and they were glad to do it. She always added that it was harder for all the young men who fought abroad. This habit of seeing the bright side followed her through life.

After the war, Howard came home and they were quickly reunited. They were married February 12th, 1947, with dreams of starting a family and living the post war American dream. They moved to Salt Lake City where Howard attended the University of Utah and played on the football team. Vivian worked at a bank, using her typing and mathematical skills. Their first child, Robyn was born April 20th, 1950, followed by Greg in 1951. She stopped working at the bank to focus on her children. Her greatest desire and joy in life was to be a wife and mother, and she was a wonderful mother and excellent wife.

Howard graduated college as an electrical engineer and joined the Aerospace Defense Industry, a booming industry that allowed him to take new adventurous work opportunities. They lived in many places, including Seattle, Philadelphia, Virginia and Bermuda. One company sent him to Toronto Canada, where Vivian joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. They eventually moved from Toronto to the Island of Oahu. When they left it was -32 below 0 in Canada and Hawaii was a warm welcome. They were very happy in Hawaii, building even more friendships and focusing on family.

While living in Hawaii, they had 3 Children, Jeff, Teri and Melanie. Her mother-in-law Margaret Doris Swain, affectionately known as Grandma Doris, and father-in-law Gilbert “Gib” Swain came to live with them in Hawaii. Grandma Doris and Vivian loved each other dearly and they formed a strong bond and friendship as they worked as a team to care for their family. They moved from beloved Hawaii to California and had two more children, April and David. Vivian dearly loved her children, who could do no wrong in her eyes. She loved sewing, baking, gardening, needle point, and quilting. She was a gifted artist, especially with her sewing.

As much as Vivian loved her children, her love for her grandchildren was even greater. She was blessed with 15 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren. Life took her from Oregon and Washington to Northern Idaho, where the family settled for a few years. After Idaho, they lived in Hawaii, Utah, California, and Idaho again before spending the last 26 years of Vivian’s life in Northern Utah, where she lived with her son David and his wife, Meai. Vivian was a breast cancer survivor. She was strong, and recovered exceptionally well from various illnesses, including a hip replacement in her late 80’s. She was fiercely independent, and after a fall at the age of 92 when she broke her leg, her first request was that her son David call 911, and fix her hair. She remained calm through the pain of a broken femur. She had surgery to place a rod in her leg and happily attended a wedding 11 days later. She was tough.

The love of her life Howard passed away in 2009, and Vivian turned her energy to focus on her Grandchildren, Great grandchildren, friends and her community. She was a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She loved going to Church and being involved in church activities. Even though her body had a lot of pain, she never complained, and she was positive until the very end. Her natural good nature and humor came through in every interaction with people. Her caregivers described her as an angel, and she truly was.

Vivian outlived her parents, siblings, friends, one child, and a great-grandchild. She carried their memories with her every day, speaking of them often. Vivian’s mother passed away when she was just 21, and though her children never had the chance to meet their grandmother, they felt as though they knew her well, thanks to Vivian’s heartfelt stories that kept her memory alive.

Vivian Swain passed away peacefully on February 9th, 2025, surrounded by family and love. She was 99 years and one week old, and she lived every moment to the fullest.

She is survived by her sons, Greg (Joan) Swain, Jeff (Wendy) Swain, and David (Fememeai) Swain; daughters, Teri Anderson, Melanie Swain, and April (Rodney Lane) Porritt; 15 grandchildren; and 26 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her half-siblings, Geraldine and Joanne.

Vivian was preceded in death by her husband of almost 62 years, Howard Lowell Swain; her parents, Evla Geraldine Wells and George Ralph Wells; siblings, Genevieve, Kenneth, Marillyn, and Joyce; her daughter, Robyn Long-Heraty; Daughter in law Connie Swain; and her great-grandchild, Desmond Roscoe Paul. She looked forward to a long-awaited reunion with them all.

Funeral services for Vivian will be held Saturday 15th 2025 at 11:00 AM, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 1448 W 1800 N, Clinton, UT 84015. Friends may visit with family at a Viewing from 10 to 10:45 a.m.

Graveside Services will be held on Wednesday February 19th, 2025, at 10:00 AM, at Utah Veterans Cemetery & Memorial Park 17111 1700 W Bluffdale, UT 84065.

She will be laid to rest with her beloved husband, Howard Lowell Swain.