ALBACHTEN, VIVIAN “VIV” AMANDA (SODERBERG)     

Viv was welcomed home by her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, just a few days short of her 86th birthday. She died at home, as she wished, with her children at her side.  

Viv was born to Dorothy (VanAtta) and Robin Soderberg on January 15, 1940. She attended St. Agnes High School, where she played clarinet and enjoyed riding on her brother’s motorcycle. In high school, she began to date her brother’s best friend, Gregory “Greg” Albachten. They married on May 3, 1958, living first in Bloomington, then Prior Lake. They raised eight children there, as well as horses, chickens, and dogs, with challenges, sacrifices and plenty of laughter. After retirement, Greg and Viv purchased Pinedale Resort in Longville, living there in the summer and wintering in Port Isabel, Texas. Following Greg’s death, Viv moved back to Bloomington to be closer to family.

With an open heart for all of God’s creation, Viv was a love‐hugging mom, grandma, great‐grandma, and aunt. She easily made friends with everyone she met, and was an “adopted” mother, mother‐in‐law, and grandmother for numerous people. She joyfully served God as a hospital and home Eucharistic minister in parishes in Longville and Bloomington. She and husband Greg were instrumental in the founding of Ciudad de los Niños (a children’s home) in Matamoros, Mexico.  

Viv loved music, attending many dances with Greg, and operas, musicals, Broadway shows, ballets and concerts with her children, grandchildren and friends. She enjoyed traveling throughout the United States, first with Greg and then her children. Always and everywhere, Viv made more friends, who remember her as remarkable, kind, bright, lovely, delightful, and with a great sense of humor.  

Viv was preceded in death by her husband Greg, who was her best friend and the love of her life, her parents, her sister Joan and brother‐in‐law Charles Glaraton, and her brother Thomas and sister‐in‐law Lois Soderberg. She is survived by her children Joseph (Missy) Albachten, Mary (Karen Kaehler) Albachten, Carol (Duane) Carlson, Patricia Massingale, Catherine (Scott) Seeley, Janine Albachten, Robert (Mark Chilefone) Albachten, and John (Laura) Albachten, grandchildren Lauren, Derek, Sarah, Amanda,   Christopher, Matthew, Nicholas, Kelley Jo, Victoria, Robert, Jacqueline, Shaelene, Erica, Sarah, Justin, Branden and Makayla, and great‐grandchildren Emerson, Cameron, Lucy, Ivy, Carly Jo, Danielle, Alexis, Kaitlyn, Mason, Avianna, Aiden, Scarlett, Kendall, Rory, Grace, Faith and Kaylie, and many much‐loved nieces and nephews, in‐laws, and friends.

The family thanks the doctors, nurses and staff at Methodist Hospital, caregivers Teho and Ikro, and St. Edward befriender Susie Gegen, with whom Viv talked and prayed in her last days.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 2, 2026, at The Church of St. Edward, 9401 Nesbitt Ave S, Bloomington, MN 55437. Visitation will be at the church one hour before the service; luncheon, again at the church, to follow. Viv will be interred at 2:00 p.m. at Fort Snelling National Cemetery, sharing a grave with her beloved husband.  

Memorials are preferred to St. Mary’s Mission, P.O. Box 189, 15341 St. Mary's Mission Rd, Red Lake, MN 56671.

We will aways be grateful to God for the gift of Viv in our lives, and will forever hold memories of her and her love for us in our hearts.