Vivian Kalton

Vivian W. Wiltsey Kalton, was born May 1, 1922 in Fargo, North Dakota, to Ira and Silvia (Pence) Wiltsey and lived in Fargo until the age of eight when her family moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota. She graduated from Marshall High School there in 1940, then attended The University College of Business and worked as a secretary at the Catalog Dept of Montgomery Ward in St. Paul, Minnesota. She was married October 9, 1942 to Robert R. Kalton in Minneapolis, Minnesota. In 1944 they moved to Ames, Iowa so that husband Bob could finish his advanced degrees at Iowa State University, where he was later employed as a professor of Agronomy. In 1973 they moved to Webster City, Iowa so Bob could do plant research for the Land O’Lakes Answer Farm.
Vivian was a housewife and a “stay at home” mom who enjoyed her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She had many hobbies but spent many hours pursuing family history and genealogy. She was a member of The Iowa Genealogical Society and chapters Hamilton Heritage Hunters, Webster Co., Story Co., and North Central of Mason City, Iowa. She spent many hours compiling Hamilton County, Iowa, records which have since been donated to the Kendall Young Library in Webster City, and also answered many requests for information on Hamilton County records. She was a member of Asbury United Methodist Church, member of New Castle/Lucy Standish Chapter of The Daughters of The American Revolution and had a long-time membership at Fuller Hall.
As a couple Bob and Vivian enjoyed trips to many conventions in major cities in America, Canada and Europe in connection with Bob’s work as an agronomist. She spent many summers in Minnesota at her lake home. Vivian loved her home, family and her many friends.
Surviving are her children, JoAnne Rothchild of West Des Moines, Iowa, Barbara (John) Burns of Council Bluffs, Iowa. Bonnie (John) Norman of Ames, Iowa, Robert (Becky) Kalton Jr. of Merrifield, Minnesota, Martin (Julie) Kalton of West Des Moines, Iowa; nine grandchildren; sixteen great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Kalton; her parents; brothers, Donald, Harold, and Marvin Wiltsey; sisters, Ruth Severin and Dorothy Moller; sons-in-law, David Rothchild and Raymond Epstein and great-grandson, Robert.
The family would like to thank Windsor Manor and St. Croix Hospice for their loving and compassionate care over the past few years.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be left to Asbury United Methodist Church, 921 Des Moines, St., Webster City, Iowa 50595