Vivian T. Giles

Vivian T. Giles was born on February 13th, 1932, to James Harder and Thelma Sarah Harder Massengale, in Boise, Idaho. She passed away on May 12th, 2025, at the age of 93.

Vivian’s father, Jim was a ranch hand in Cascade and during the summers, she would work on the ranch. She loved riding her horses and her dog would sit behind her and go on the rides with her.

Vivian was raised in Boise, attended Boise High School and graduated with a teaching degree from Eastern Oregon University. Later she received her Master’s degree from Portland State University.

She taught in Lake Oswego, Oregon and after she became an army civilian, she taught school for the American Red Cross and was stationed in Okinawa where she met Russell Hastings Giles, a Captain in the Marines. They moved back to the United States and were married in Boise and drove across the U.S. for their honeymoon. Vivian and Russ loved to travel and travelled the world.

They lived in New York and started to raise a family and had their first son Jonathan. They lived in Australia for a year and later moved to Hong Kong where they had their second son, Jeffrey and daughter, Jennifer. They finally settled in England and had Justin their third son. She was a dutiful wife and mother raising four children and would entertain Russ’s clients and business associates. She enjoyed gardening and had a beautiful exquisite rose garden. She loved to read and watch movies. Russ passed away in 1981 and she fiercely raised her children to be independent.

She remained in England until Jennifer and Justin, the remaining children living in England had finished their schooling and then moved back to Boise in 1988 to care for her mother, which she did with grace and compassion.

Vivian found joy in dancing and was a member and board member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles and would dance the night away Sunday’s and Tuesday’s. She cherished her time with her lady friends known as the Birthday Girls who would celebrate birthdays at each other’s houses and she truly enjoyed playing Pinochle with her friends. She loved spending time with family and we had some wonderful times with the last family reunion that was held in McCall in September 2024.

Vivian is survived by her sister, Virginia and four children, Jonathan, Jeffrey, Jennifer Hogaboom and Justin and four grandchildren, Traver, Kayla, Andrew and Amanda, and 3 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Russ and her parents.

Her family will be planning a Celebration of Life Service in the coming months.

She will be sorely missed by all!