Virginia P. Oye

VIRGINIA PEARL OYE was born October 13, 1922, to Joseph and Verena “Pearl” (Wilmsen) Harms in Brown County, Groton, South Dakota. She attended Groton Public School and graduated in 1940. She moved to Sioux Falls, South Dakota in 1942 and became employed at the Thomas Tailor Shop at the Sioux Falls Army Air base, where dry cleaning was dropped off and picked up, for three years as a clerk and cashier. She then worked at the S. S. Kresge Dollar Store doing office work until early in December of 1953. On December 8, 1953 Virginia was united in marriage to Vincent Oye at Augustana Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The couple farmed and raised their family on the family farm in Mound Township until 1988. Virginia kept busy helping on the farm and raising their five children. They moved to Luverne, Minnesota in March of 1988. She then became employed at Client Community Services where she worked until she retired in December of 1998. Vincent preceded her in death on January 9, 2010. Virginia continued to reside at their home until February 6, 2012, when she became a resident at Sunrise Village in Jasper, Minnesota. On April 7, 2012 Virginia suffered a stroke and entered Sanford Luverne Hospital. On April 12, 2012 she was transferred to the Sanford Luverne Hospice Cottage where she died peacefully on Saturday, April 14, 2012 at the age of 89 years, six months and one day.

Virginia was baptized on April 18, 1940 and confirmed on May 19, 1940 at St. John Lutheran Church in Groton. While living in Sioux Falls she attended Augustana Lutheran Church where she taught Sunday School, belonged to Young Women’s Missionary Society and Young People’s Club, and held the office of treasurer and secretary. Virginia was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Hardwick, Minnesota. She was active in Ladies Aide and Circle. She also belonged to an Extension Club. Family was very important to Virginia. She enjoyed her family, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She is lovingly remembered by her five children, RaVae Benson of Luverne, Craig and his wife Victoria Oye of Valley Springs, SD, Mark and his wife Shannon Oye of Luverne, Steven and his wife Andrea Oye of Luverne, Rhonda Oye and her husband Scott Northrup of Elko, MN; 11 grandchildren; 8 great-grandchildren; 3 step-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Vincent; son-in-law, Kevin Benson; parents, Joseph and Verena; great-grandson, Gavin Oye; two brothers, Robert and James Harms; and one sister, Marion McLaughlin.

May God Bless the Life of Virginia P. Oye!