Tribute to Virginia and Vincent

Tribute to Virginia and Vincent
Reunion 2017

By John Ritter

Virginia and Vincent were married March 26, 1951, and farmed first south of Chokio and a few years later moved to their current home north of Chokio where they still live. They raised seven children who have given them 17 grandchildren and 20 great grandchildren. Family is always first for them.

They are pillars of their community, leaders in politics, activists in rural and health issues, and devoted members of St Mary's Church, where Vincent was an usher and Virginia sang in the choir, led services as the lector and taught Sunday School. Following in the footsteps of Albert Schuster, Virginia and Vincent were active of for many years in the Minnesota DFL Party and the Minnesota Farmers Union. They served a variety of offices at the county level, frequently hosting action meetings at their home and organizing conventions. Their hope---their deep passion---was to make a better life for their children and others in rural communities.

Vincent, who was a veteran of the US Navy, was elected vice president of the Minnesota Farmers Union in the early 1980s. In that role, he traveled frequently around the country to help organize other farmers and to Washington DC to lobby elected representatives. Vincent also served on the state Farmers Union Marketing and Processing Assn. board. This activity was in addition to running a 640 acre grain and dairy farm.

Virginia graduated from the Kahler School of Nursing in Rochester in 1950 and served her community for more than half a century as a Registered Nurse, working most of her career at Graceville Hospital, both on the floor and as a home health nurse. She also served on the Stevens County Hospital Board and worked on organizing other regional and county health issues and volunteered at Bloodmobiles. She served on the county FHA Advisory Board and served for many years as a local and county 4-H leader.

While keeping busy with outside activities, she has worked tirelessly on the business end of the farm, always kept a big garden and yard, and cooked for a house full of friends and relatives every day and every holiday where a dozen or more people sit around her dining room table. She still finds time to make a pie to take to some family in town or church event. In more recent years, she took a break from the farm and attended clown college for a few days to learn a new entertainment skill.

In 1970, Vincent and Virginia and family were named Stevens County Farm Family of the Year and honored at the county fair. The winnings were used for a family vacation to Nebraska. They always encouraged their children to dream and to be the best they could be.

Virginia and Vincent lead by example, working hard on the farm and home and then making time for fun, such as square dancing, family vacations to exotic locations like Paul Bunyan Land and even Chicago in later years, and weekend visits to the relatives' homes to share a meal and play games. Vincent and Virginia are admired and widely respected in their community and they are an inspiration to their children. We learned that we didn't need a lot of "stuff" to be happy as long as we had each other. We learned how to make something from almost nothing. From them, we learned to share and put the needs of others ahead of our own. We love you, Mom and Dad!