C. Virginia Fries

CECIL VIRGINIA FRIES was born on April 14, 1922 to Cecil Duncan and Irene (Wilson) MacRae in St. Louis, Missouri. She was raised there and received her education, graduating in 1940. She then attended school at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. On January 17, 1942, Virginia was united in marriage to James L. Fries. The couple made their home in West Union, Iowa, Cedar Rapids, Iowa and then Sioux City, Iowa. In 1962 the family moved to Burt, Iowa. In 1965, Virginia went to work as a correspondent reporter for the Fairmont Sentinel newspaper, located in Fairmont, Minnesota. The family moved to Fairmont in 1969 and to Olivia, Minnesota in 1971. Virginia moved to Marshall, Minnesota in 1971 and went to work as a reporter and photographer for the Marshall Independent newspaper. She continued to work in this capacity for the Washington Missourian newspaper and moved to the community of Washington, Missouri in 1974. In 1995, Virginia retired and moved to Hardwick, Minnesota where she lived close to her daughter. Virginia became a resident at Sunrise Manor in Jasper, Minnesota in January 2014 and lived there until transferring to the Good Samaritan Society Communities in Pipestone, Minnesota in May 2014. On Saturday, March 14, 2015, Virginia peacefully went to be with her Lord at the age of 92 years.

Virginia was a good mother and held her church as a very important part of her life. She most recently was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Hardwick, Minnesota. Throughout her life she enjoyed singing in church choirs. She also enjoyed photography, gardening, quilting and taking her dogs for walks, as she was fond of animals. Virginia was a very strong, independent and courageous person. She was very proud of her family and her achievements in the newspaper profession.

Virginia is lovingly remembered by her children, Dr. Jim Fries of Santa Fe, New Mexico, Joe (Judy) Fries of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Rev. John (Jeanne) Fries of Trenton, Missouri and Jennifer (Robert) Heitman of Hardwick, Minnesota; ten grandchildren; twelve great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; sister, Ruth Gerrell of Auburn, California; half-sister, Carroll Taborga of McClean, Virginia; half-brother, Cecil Duncan MacRae, Jr. of Redmond, Washington; and other family. She was preceded in death by her parents; and husband, Jim.

***Memorials may by directed to Iowa State University - School of Journalism.