Virginia Bloomenrader
July 27, 1919 ~ June 18, 2010
Virginia Bloomenrader, 90, Highmore, passed away, Friday, June 18, 2010 at the Highmore Healthcare Center.
A memorial service was held at 10:30 a.m., Monday, June 28, 2010 at the Luze Funeral Home in Highmore with Roger Day officiating.
Virginia Ruth Bloomenrader was born on July 27, 1919, in Popejoy, Iowa to Hugh H. and Louise (Krismer) Hartshorn.
In February of 1920, Virginia moved to South Dakota with her parents who had recently purchased the ranch where Virginia was raised and spent her entire life.
Virginia attended country grade school through eighth grade and then began high school in Highmore. It was in high school she met Leon Bloomenrader, the man she would marry. Leon and Virginia were married in March of 1937, shortly before she graduated from Highmore High School as Salutatorian of the Class of 1937.
Not long after their marriage, they settled on the present day Bloomenrader Ranch. In 1938, the first of their 5 children were born. Thus began 40 years of life together on the ranch where Leon and Virginia worked as partners. Virginia had no greater love than for her family and the ranch. She was an accomplished horseman and spent many hours in her youth riding the prairie with her younger sister, Jane. Long after her children were born, when it was time to round-up the cattle, you would often find her in the saddle, lending a hand.
In the late 1960’s, Virginia, feeling she had her family well-grown and in school, began work as the Postmistress at Stephan Mission. She held this job for over 30 years, retiring in 1999, after she turned 80. In her spare time, Virginia enjoyed painting, writing poetry and short stories, and was a voracious reader. She dearly loved her pet cats, who kept her company after Leon passed away in 1979. Mostly, she just loved her family and being a country girl and life on the ranch.
Left to cherish her memory are her five children: Judy Blair, of Pierre, SD; Dennis (Carla) Bloomenrader of Highmore, SD; Scott (Karen) Bloomenrader of Billings, MT; Bret (Wendy) Bloomenrader of Highmore, SD; and Ricki Bloomenrader (Dale Kiepke) of Pierre, SD; 12 grandchildren; 33 great-grandchildren; and several great-great-grandchildren.
Virginia was preceded in death by her husband, Leon; her parents; her sister, Jane; her brother, Fred; and her son-in-law, Earl Blair.
Luze Funeral Home of Highmore has been entrusted with Virginia's arrangements.
View current weather.
Memories Timeline
Guestbook
Sign the Guestbook, Light a Candle
Bloomenrader Family,
Sorry to hear about the loss of your mother and grandmother.
The Stephensons
Jim, Carrie, Carson & Carly
Dennis & Family:
so sorry to hear about the loss of your mother.
May the Good Lord Bless you in this time of sorrow.
Just want you to know that Mom and I are thinking of you. Mom has many good memories of Virginia and their days at the Mission. Take care and enjoy the memories. God be with you in this time of sorrow. Jean and Jenise
Dear Bret and Ricki:
I was sorry to hear your mom passed this last week-end. She was and always will be a SPECIAL person to me. I have so many memories of birthdays shared at the little yellow house, sleep overs with Ricki and just lots of fun being around Virginia. She was a wonderful person, mom, friend, wife, and grandma. I will miss her. My girls will always remember her fondly as “the cat lady in South Dakota”. They truly enjoyed their visits with her. You will be in our thoughts. Love, Tess, Kent, Madison and Taylor
Dennis & Carla: Sorry to hear of your mom’s passing. May she rest in peace.
Our prayers and thoughts are with all of you. Virginia was a wonderful lady and she will be missed, cherish all your memories. (Goodbye sweet Virginia save some of those cookies in Heaven for me, Love ya Peg)
Joey and Peg
I want to send out my deepest sympathies to the family and thank Virginia for all the memories. There were a lot of cherished ones whether from stopping in at the post office, Halloweens long past or just hanging out at her house; she will be missed
Judy, I am so sorry to hear of your mother’s passing. She certainly lived a long and wonderful life.
God be with you, Hugs, Dee
Bret & Wendy,
We just learned Virginia passed away. Our deepest condolences to you and your families. She will be greatly missed by all of you. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. God Bless. Allen and Jane Campbell
Ricki…May memories help you through this sad time.
Dear Bloomenrader family–I have not seen Virginia in quite some time but she was a dear friend and I visited with her almost every day that I worked at Crow Creek High School and I was always happy to fill in at the post office for her. There are so many memories and Jerry and I and our family will cherish them forever. We were all blessed to have known Virginia. Love to you all. Beverly King
So sad to hear of your loss. I remember the fun times I spent at your house when we were in highschool. She was a very nice lady! My thoughts and prayers are with you and your whole family.
HEARTFELT SYMPATHY IN THE LOSS OF YOUR MOM.
MIKE,CLELA,LANE AND JILL HENSON
My Deepest and Sincere Condelences to you and you family. You are in our Prayers Carla & Family.
So sorry to hear of Virginia’s passing. Marilyn and I wish to extend out sympathies to the entire family.