George Vivian, 86

George L. Vivian (1939 -2026) 

George L. Vivian passed away peacefully  Aug. 27, 2026, in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. He was born Sept. 13, 1939, to George F. Vivian and Virginia M. Vivian in Butte, Mont. Because of his love for his hometown, he will have his final resting place in Butte next to his parents.

George joined the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves in September of his senior year in high school and served eight years. He was very proud of being a Marine and recently shared a "Semper Fi" hoorah with a friend and fellow Marine. As they say, once a Marine, always a Marine.

George graduated from the Montana School of Mines in 1962 with a degree in Metallurgical Engineering. He was hired by the Atomic Energy Commission (now the Department of Energy) and went on to get a graduate-level degree in Nuclear Engineering at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee. In 1964, he moved to Idaho Falls and worked for 26 years as a project engineer overseeing work at the Idaho National Laboratory. This was followed by four years with the U.S. Bureau of Mines as a local manager of the materials science programs. At the age of 54, he retired and never looked back.  

George was, above all, an outdoorsman. He loved mountaineering, rock climbing, telemark skiing, fly fishing, hunting, and photography — he loved it all and often enjoyed talking about his adventures. When recently asked by his doctor if he had anything he wished he had done, George's response was simply “No. I’ve done it all.” He lived a full life and had beautiful memories of happy times spent with good friends and family.

We should all be so lucky.

He was married to his second wife, Katherine (aka Midge), and for those 47 years she was his partner and friend. George taught her how to enjoy most of the outdoor activities that he loved and she supported his passion. She encouraged his trips down the Colorado River with local whitewater enthusiasts, his treks to California to rock climb in Yosemite National Park, and his many years of fly-fishing in Alaska. They worked side by side, raising their family and building a life together.  

George is survived by his loving wife, Midge; his son, Greg; his daughters, Terri, Stephanie, Paige, and Janet; nine grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and his nephew, Roy. He was preceded in death by his parents and his only sister, Virginia Davis.   

Yates Funeral Home in Hayden Chapel has been entrusted with George's final arrangements. Please sign his online guestbook and share memories at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.