Virginia Schei

VIRGINIA VIOLET SCHEI was born on July 20, 1919 to Henry and Mary (Campbell) Vogt in rural Nobles County, Minnesota. She spent her childhood on the family farm near Magnolia. In her younger years, she especially enjoyed getting together with the neighbor girls and playing softball. She graduated from Magnolia High School in 1937. She then attended Paul’s Beauty School in Minneapolis where she graduated in 1938. She returned home to southwest Minnesota where she married Alfred Schei on February 8, 1939 at the Lutheran parsonage in Adrian. The couple farmed near Adrian until moving to their farm in Rock County in 1944. When Alfred passed away in February of 1956, Virginia and their son, Dennis, continued the farm operation. In 1967, Virginia started working as an office assistant at Beaver Creek Mutual Insurance Company in Luverne. She continued employment there until her retirement in 1986. In December of 2001, Virginia moved from the farm place to an apartment in Luverne. It took her awhile, but she eventually learned to enjoy the city life. In February of 2012, Virginia became a resident at the Good Samaritan Society – Mary Jane Brown Home in Luverne, where on Friday, December 9, 2016 she passed away peacefully at the age of 97 years, four months and 20 days.

Virginia was a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Luverne where she was active with Bible Study Circle, Grace Lutheran Church Women and Day of Doing. She was also active in the Rock County Extension Club. She enjoyed playing cards with friends and family and especially liked joining card marathons. In her retirement years, Virginia enjoyed traveling throughout the United States.

Virginia is remembered by her children, Darnelle Mammen of New Ulm, MN and Darla (Paul) Aukes of Luverne; daughter-in-law, Janice Schei of Luverne; her siblings, June Nath and Ruth Ashby, both of Luverne; grandchildren, Kris (Brad) Polzien, Jon (Monica) Mammen, Sara (Mark) Altman, Eric (Jenny) Mammen, Jane (Dale) Berg, Marti (Brad) Thompson, Molly (Preston) Heinz and Melissa (Chris) Brown; great grandchildren, Paige Polzien, Grace, Samuel and Henry Mammen, Josi and Sadi Altman, Julia and Justin Berg, Ingrid Thompson and Zack and Brody Heinz. She was preceded in death by her husband, Alfred; her son, Dennis; son-in-law, Harlan Mammen; brother and sister-in-law, Raymond and Ann Vogt; sister and brother-in-law, Edna and Lester Wieck; sister, Dorothy Smeins; and her brothers-in-law, Howard Ashby and Bill Nath.