Virginia Monroe

Virginia Lee Thomas Monroe, 89 of Ellendale, ND was born on June 2, 1926 to William and Kate (Kegley) Thomas in Aberdeen SD. She grew up and attended schools in Aberdeen, graduating from Central High School in 1944. That fall she attended Northern State College. She was one of the many women that played football for the Northern Wolves that fall. Later, she began working for the Internal Revenue in Aberdeen. She worked there until she married her childhood sweetheart, Sherwood Monroe on November 7, 1948. They moved to his uncle's farm near Arthur, ND. They lived and farmed there until 1962 when they bought a farm near Embden, ND. They continued farming there until 1967, when they moved back to Arthur where she began working for the Good Samaritan Center as an Activities Director. In 1978 they moved to Ellendale, ND. She worked at the Ellendale Nursing Center until her retirement. She was currently residing at the Evergreen Assisted Living, before a brief stay at Aberdeen Health and Rehab where she passed away on March 7, 2016. Virginia loved her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren more than anything. She was an accomplished artist, enjoyed making crafts, and beating her kids at a good game of cards. Her other love was baking and it was well known around the community that when Christmas came, so would Virginia's delicious cookies. She was active in her church, and enjoyed her Bible study. Her kind, loving, generous soul will be missed by many. She leaves behind her 7 children, Cynthia (Don) Meidinger, Robert (Colette), Cathy (Bob Holtzman) Monroe, Mary (David) Krueger, Lisa (Blake) Williams, Mark (Rae) and Dana (Earl) Nausid, 9 grandchildren, Justin (Jamie Eberle) Meidinger, Jessica (Kevin) Kotrba, Kristen (Eric Buzay) Monroe, Max Holtzman, Alyssia Richardson, Devon Wheelock, Torri (Mike) Tompkins, Aaron Monroe, and Emerson Monroe, and 7 great-grandchildren, Ella Eberle-Meidinger, David Eberle-Meidinger, Zeke Wendschlag, Addison Kotrba, Carson Kotrba, Finn Buzay, Peyton Tompkins, special friend Roger Illies, and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Sherwood, her sister, Edna Riedl, brother William Thomas, daughter Jan Wendschlag, grandsons Bryan Wendschlag, Eric Wendschlag and Bradly B. Meidinger. The funeral is 10:30am Saturday, March 12, 2016 at Presbyterian United Methodist Church, Ellendale with Pastor Paul Henschen officiating. Visitation is 9:30am Saturday to time of service at the church. Burial is at Ellendale City Cemetery. Arrangements by Hoven Funeral Chapel, Ellendale. Memorials, in Lieu of flowers, may be given to the Aberdeen, SD Area Humane Society, or Ellendale Area Arts Council.