GWANEEBIKWE (Thunder Woman) Vivian Marcellyn Chosa Hilmas Proulx, age 66, longtime resident of Tower passed away Saturday, August 25, 2012 in St. Luke's Medical Center in Duluth, surrounded by her loved ones. She was born March 12, 1946 in Soudan, MN, the daughter of Rosabelle Boshey and Vincent Chosa Sr. She attended Roosevelt High School in Virginia, MN followed by Labor Education Adv. Program, Rasmussen School of Business, Minnesota Department of Human Rights, Rainy River Community College, Cook Christian Training School and the Mesabi Community College.
Vivian worked at Indian Resources Specialty, as Executive Assistants of the Council for American Indian Ministry and the St. Paul Indian Movement, North American Indian Fellowship Center and the St. Paul American Indian Center. She married Dennis Hilmas Sr. on August 4, 1965 and Gary Proulx on July 15, 1985. Vivian loved spending time with her grandchildren. She was an avid reader, enjoyed playing "Farmville" on her computer and the slot machines at Fortune Bay Casino while visiting with friends. If you weren't her friend at the beginning of the day, you certainly were by the end of the day. She loved singing any tune, but is marveled and most remembered for singing every Patsy Cline song.
Vivian is survived by her daughter: Anita Lynn of Tower; son: Dennis Hilmas Jr. of Tower; sister Cheryl Krotzer of Kanaranzi, MN; brother: Leo Chosa of California; grandsons: Christopher Hunt, Chandler Brown, Daniel Hilmas and Darren Hilmas; great-granddaughter: Alosha Ranum; special aunt: Caroline Boshey; nephews: Vincent Chosa III and Cordell Chosa; husbands: Dennis Hilmas Sr. and Gary Proulx; and a plethora of awesome relatives and special friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents; sisters: Diana Chosa Alicea and Jenny Johnson; brother: Vincent "Buzzy" Chosa, Jr. and longtime special friend: Al Shorting.
A wake will be held from 4:00 p.m. Tuesday, August 28, 2012 until the 10:00 a.m. Tribal Rites Ceremony Wednesday, August 29, 2012 in the Vermilion Wellness Center in Tower. Burial will be in the Family Cemetery.
Family services are provided by Bauman-Vermilion, a Bauman Family Funeral Home, in Tower. To express condolences on-line please see: www.baumanfuneralhome.com.

Wake

Tuesday August 28, 2012 , 4:00 p.m. - 10:00 a.m. at Vermilion Wellness Center

Tribal Rites

Wednesday August 29, 2012 , 10:00 a.m. at Vermilion Wellness Center

Interment

at Family Cemetery

1-888-579-7953 Code: 74804P


Facts Born: March 12, 1946
Place of Birth: Soudan, MN
Death: August 25, 2012
Place of Death: Duluth, MN
Hobbies: Vivian loved spending time with her grandchildren. She was an avid reader, enjoyed playing "Farmville" on her computer and the slot machines at Fortune Bay Casino while visiting with friends. If you weren't her friend at the beginning of the day, you certainly were by the end of the day. She loved singing any tune, but is marveled and most remembered for singing every Patsy Cline song.