Ingvar Johann Vik

Ingvar Johann Vik, Jr. was born on March 19, 1931, in the back seat of a 1929 Whippet on the way to the hospital in Fairview, Montana (this is what he always told me, I never thought to ask how his dad got the use of a 1929 Whippet). Ingvar joined his older sister Clara and in time they were joined by their sister Thordis (Margaret) and the baby, Hans. The first few years of his life were spent in Nohly, where his father had a blacksmith and machine shop. Soon after Hans was born, Jenny had to leave the family and Ingvar Sr. moved the shop to Sidney where he remarried and in time Ella, Hilda and Linda joined the family.

Shortly after graduating from High School, Ingvar left Sidney and joined the Air Force where he was stationed in France. In 1954, he travelled to Denmark on leave and while at a public dance met Vibeke Nielsen. Tall good-looking Americans fluent in Norwegian were hard to come by in Copenhagen at the time and he was very popular. Ingvar and Vibeke were married early in 1955 and moved to Bozeman where he attended college, graduating in 1960 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. While in college, Ingvar and Vibeke welcomed two children, Torben in 1957 and Ingrid in 1958.

In 1960 Ingvar was offered a position at Boeing, so the family moved to Seattle. He was at Boeing for almost nine years when he left to accept a position with Pacific Car and Foundry. At this time, he moved the family to Issaquah to be closer to his new job.

Shortly after moving, Ingvar spotted a small ad in the Seattle Times inviting anyone interested in Studebakers to a meeting. He brought the family along to the meet up and became one of the founding members of the Seattle chapter of the Studebaker Drivers Club of America. At the original meeting Ingvar met Don Albrechect. Don and Ingvar became lifelong friends celebrating each other’s good times and supporting each other through some of their greatest trials. Don retains the position of much loved and honored Uncle to both Torben and Ingrid.

The Studebaker Club became a huge part of Ingvar’s life and remained so for the rest of his life. His Studebakers were a passion, and many evenings and weekends were spent working on them, scouring wrecking yards for parts, or attending meetings and car shows. For several decades Ingvar had a monthly advice column in the National Studebaker Club’s monthly magazine, Turning Wheels, answering a variety of questions from other owners looking for help with their own vehicles, and served on the Board of Directors well into his 70’s.

In 1985 Vibeke passed away. Ingvar retired from Pacific Car and fulfilled a lifelong goal of returning to Montana and opening his own machine shop. He settled in Livingston and sent for Torben to follow and help build the shop. Torben brought Janet with him to begin this new chapter in their lives. They arrived in 1986 and Torben made Vik’s Machine Shop his lifelong career until his passing in 2020.

In the early 90’s Ingvar met and married Ramona Bates. They spend many happy years travelling the country in their 5th wheel and wintering in Yuma, Arizona until Ramona Passed in 2012.

Ingvar spent the remaining years tinkering with his cars, travelling to car shows with Bernie, craft shows with Marilyn, helping Torben in the shop, spending time with his great friend Steve, acting as an honorary 2nd father to John and making lasting memories with all of us. He loved people, was happiest in a room full of friends – and he made friends wherever he was.

Funeral services will be held at Livingston Bible Church, 329 North 5th Street at 11:00am Friday, November 4th. Franzen-Davis Funeral Home and Crematory has been entrusted with arrangements. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to the Shriners Hospital for Children.