Virginia Sheldon, 83

Virginia Faye Sheldon, 83, Alexandria, died December 3, 2012.

Virginia was born July 24, 1929, the youngest of the four children of Dr. Charles H. Pierce and Sylvia (Hinds) Pierce in Wadena. Her mother passed away when she was very young and she was raised by her stepmother, Alfilda Pierce. As a young girl she spent many summers with relatives on the prairie near Hubbard.

She graduated from Wadena High School in 1948 and went on to attend Hamline University in Minneapolis. She met her future husband, Dale C. Sheldon, while singing together in a church choir. They married on June 29, 1952. They lived first in Port Townsend, Washington while Dale was in the Army. In 1953, they moved back to Minnesota, where they built their home and raised five children on Lake Jessie near Alexandria.

She lived a life full of music and was a long time member of the Congregational Church Choir, was a member of the cast of many Alexandria Area Arts musicals, sang solos and duets with Dale at weddings and funerals, and led singing at every campfire on the family camping trips. Music, arts and spirituality studies were all a large part of her life.

She returned to college and earned a bachelor’s degree from St. Cloud University in social work at the age of 47. Much of her life’s work was dedicated to mental health issues.

She loved her family and especially enjoyed her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Mary Stabile; and brothers, Robert and Samuel Pierce.

She is survived by her husband, Dale; brother, Charles Pierce (Jane) of Aurora, CO; daughters, Brita (Philip) Sailer, Park Rapids, Julia (Robert) Morris, Bailey CO, Genevieve (Tim) Poehls, Wolverton, Sylvia (Joe) Luetmer; son, Peter Sheldon, Alexandria; 11 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

Memorial services were held Saturday, December 8 at First Congregational United Church of Christ. Honorary pallbearers were Peter Sheldon, Joseph and Linda Capistrant, Katy Mohabir and Nancy Wirth.

Arrangements are with Anderson Funeral Home in Alexandria; www.andersonfuneral.net.

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