Vicki Tollefson
Vicki Tollefson

Obituary of Vicki Jean Tollefson

Approx 30 minutes before 11am, viewers will be able to see a box specific to Vickie’s funeral that they can click to access from this page: 

https://cathedraloftherockies.org/Worship-Online/Classic-Worship

The Tollefson family is heartbroken to have lost a wonderful wife, mother, and grandmother. Vicki Tollefson of Boise, Idaho passed away at St. Alphonsus Hospital on Thursday, February 25, 2021.

 

Born Vicki Jean Shaw in Gooding, Idaho on February 2, 1948, she was the third child of Murva Sliman and Clint Shaw. Vicki had fond memories of her childhood where she was inspired to be a strong, independent woman by her Grandma Gim. Vicki grew up fishing and hunting in the Idaho wilderness with her dad, working at the O’-So-Good Drive In and graduating Valedictorian from Gooding High School, Class of 1966. Vicki was proud of her hometown roots and loved playing “six degrees” of Gooding, Idaho with anyone who would join in.

 

Vicki attended the University of Idaho and pledged the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority, where she made lifelong friends. While at U of I she met her loving husband, Steve Tollefson.  After a whirlwind courtship, Steve and Vicki married in a small ceremony in Elko, Nevada on August 5, 1968.  They were married on a Monday and on Wednesday, they moved to Fort Holabird, Maryland so Steve could attend military intelligence training.  In January 1969, the Army deployed Steve to Vietnam, and he spent eleven months in the jungle. 

 

While Steve was in Vietnam, Vicki completed her college education and graduated from Northwest Nazarene University in Nampa, Idaho.  After Steve returned from Vietnam in 1970, Vicki gave birth to their first son, Gregory Clayton Tollefson, born on October 16, 1971 in Nampa. 

 

After a short period working in Nampa, Steve felt called to the ministry.  So, Vicki, Steve and Greg moved to Kansas City, Missouri so Steve could to attend St. Paul School of Theology. Living in Kansas City was a transformative time for Vicki.   She often spoke about what an eye-opening experience it was for a small-town girl to live in such a big city and to be exposed to so many new ideas, different cultures, and diverse people.  On January 5, 1974, , in Kansas City, Vicki gave birth to her second son, Benjamin Knute Tollefson. 

 

After seminary, Steve received his first appointment as a United Methodist minister.  So Vicki, and her two sons moved with Steve back out West to a little town in Oregon called Heppner.It was here that Vicki began her life-long dedication and involvement in church activities. She loved going to church and listening to Steve preach.  Vicki made sure her sons always attended church and Sunday school. 

 

When Vicki became pregnant again, all of her friends assured her that after two boys, the third one was certainly going to be a girl.  But, on May 21, 1978, Vicki gave birth to her third son, Theodore Steven Tollefson, in Heppner. 

 

In 1979, Vicki, Steve, and their three boys relocated to Boise, Idaho, where Steve had been appointed the minister of Amity United Methodist Church.  On April 25, 1980, Vicki gave birth to their fourth son, Weston Shaw Tollefson, in Boise. 

 

Vicki was a devoted, self-sacrificing and tenacious mother.  She loved her four boys and would do anything for them.  She wouldn’t hesitate to stay up until 2 am to make sure that all of the laundry was done, the house was clean and everything was ready for the next day.  She would throw themed birthday parties for each of her children and made sure they always had anything they needed. 

 

After eight years in Boise, Vicki and Steve moved to Oregon where Steve had been appointed the senior pastor of Salem First United Methodist Church.  

 

When her children were a bit older and all in school full-time, Vicki started working as a substitute middle and high school teacher.  She also taught at the local community college.  Vicki enjoyed math and math puzzles and was more proficient in math and science than anyone else in the family. 

 

In 1995, Vicki and Steve moved back to Boise where Steve had been appointed the senior pastor of Cathedral of the Rockies First United Methodist Church. After a short stint as a barista, Vicki started a successful career as a real estate agent.  She loved working with people and helping them find the perfect home. 

 

Vicki and Steve traveled the world together and eventually visited al least 20 different countries.  They would often engage in works of charity on their travels including helping to build a church and feed the hungry in Peru.

 

On Tuesday, February 23, 2021, Vicki went for a long walk with Steve and spent time with her family on their weekly Zoom cocktail hour.  At around one o’clock in the morning, Vicki suffered a sudden severe and unexpected stroke and was taken by ambulance to St. Alphonsus Hospital. Vicki passed peacefully with Steve and one of her sons at her side shortly after 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, February 25, 2021.  She is survived by her devoted husband of 52 years, Steven, her four boys, Greg, Ben Ted and Wes, her four daughters-in-law, Deanna, Laurie, Caitlin and Greta, and her four grandchildren, Nathan, Alek, Sonja, and Shanti. 

 

Vicki loved more than anything to spend time with her family and golf and play cards with family and friends.  Vicki loved a rare steak, a good hamburger and a coke, and always enjoyed a nice glass of red wine.  She did not like coconut or gin. 

 

Vicki Tollefson’s celebration of life will be on Tuesday, March 2nd at 11:00 am (MST) at the Cathedral of the Rockies First United Methodist Church.

 

If you would like to attend the funeral service virtually (live feed), please use one of the links below:

 

(1) the Summer Funeral home website (https://summersfuneral.com/) or, 

 

(2) the Cathedral of the Rockies website (https://cathedraloftherockies.org/).

 

In lieu of flowers, please feel free to make a charitable donation to:

 

The Idaho Food Bank: https://idahofoodbank.org/donate/ or,

 

Corpus Christi House: https://corpuschristiboise.org/donate or,

 

Local missions at The Cathedral of the Rockies: https://cathedraloftherockies.org/Give-Online

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Vicki Tollefson, please visit Tribute Store
Tuesday
2
March

Celebration of Life

11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Tuesday, March 2, 2021
Cathedral of the Rockies
717 N 11th St
Boise, Idaho, United States
208-343-7511
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Vicki