Vicki (Gibson) Poier

Vicki Poier died Saturday, August 24, 2024 at her home in rural Montevideo at the age of 76.

Memorial services will be held on Thursday, September 5, 2024 2:00 PM at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Montevideo with Rev. Donald S. McKee officiating.

Family and friends are also invited to a Celebration of Vicki's life on Friday, September 6, 2024 from 5 to 7 PM at Anderson-TeBeest Funeral Home in Montevideo.

Vicki Lynn (Gibson) Poier was born June 21, 1948 in Montevideo, MN the daughter of Everett and Gladys (Kvanli) Gibson. She grew up on the same homestead that she and her husband Keith Poier have lived on and farmed since 1975 with the retirement of Everett and Gladys. Vicki went to the country school District 51 for six years before attending and graduating from Maynard High School in 1966.  Vicki married Keith Poier on November 28, 1969. Vicki attended Concordia College in Moorhead, MN graduating with a BS in Elementary Education in 1970, obtaining a license for Elementary Ed K-6 and Special Learning Disabilities. Her favorite course of study was religion with Professor Marcus Borg who continued to influence her faith.  This included a May Seminar with Keith studying Christian Marxist Dialogue traveling to East and West Berlin, Czechoslovakia, World Council of Churches in Geneva Switzerland, and the Vatican in Rome. She was influenced by a young Czech giving a tour, saying that "you Americans have much freedom, but you do not use it." He pointed out the bullet holes in the buildings that marked the Soviet invasion in Prague. Speaking out was a great risk.

Vicki was baptized, confirmed, and married at Trinity Lutheran Church of Havelock township. From 1984 to 2022 she was an active member of the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Montevideo. She sought to live out her faith in numerous ways, including teaching, giving leadership to an annual Hunger Walk for over 30 years, serving on various committees at church, helping form and support Montevideo Area Peace Seekers, Land Stewardship Project, Community Meals, Potluck Prayers and Pie, and the County DFL. Vicki believed that life is an ongoing journey of reaching for understanding of God's call, being of service, and sharing love and compassion to family and neighbors near and far.

She is survived by her husband, Keith; their children: Kori (Jeremy) Holtmeier of Mt. Prospect, IL, Kati (Jeremy) Berg of St. Paul, MN, Rebeka (Billy) Denson of Tucson, AZ, and Levi (Amy) Poier of Des Moines, IA; grandchildren: Kate and Luke Holtmeier, Ian and Thea Berg, Gabrielle (Sampson) Keller-Hurley & Rebel Hurley, and MayuTessa Rae Poier Denson; siblings: Lois Winroth of Fargo, ND, Dennis (Mary) Gibson of Montevideo, MN, and Arty (Peggy) Gibson of Tulsa, OK; sisters-in-law: Anne Bjornson and Rebecca (Roy) Dahlinger.

Vicki and Keith provided foster care to 12 youth, including some who they have kept in close contact with, including Cynthia Husman, Ruchele Wyatt, Loren Bjerke, and Trevor Miller.

They also hosted honorary children from across the globe in year long exchanges. Vlady Tiuso of Colombia became especially dear and hosted the Poier's on an epic trip to Colombia in 2018.

She had many children by Baptism: Aaron Gibson, Shaun Gibson, Robert Bennett, Harold Stegeman, Ethan Hipple, Sarah Dahlinger, Trevor Miller, Zechariah Andersen and Willa Dissell.

Preceding her in death were her parents.

In lieu of flowers please contribute to the ALS Association, Attn: Team Vicki Poier 1919 University Ave W. Suite 175, St Paul, MN 55104 or to the St. Martin's Fund Heritage Haven Project at Our Savior's Lutheran Church, Attn: In memory of Vicki Poier for Heritage Haven, 222 N. 5th St, Montevideo, MN 56265.