Virginia Huntimer

Virginia Huntimer, age 94, of Wentworth, died Sunday, January 9, 2022, at Madison Regional Health System. Funeral services will be 11:00 AM, Friday, January 14, 2022, at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Wentworth. Burial will follow at Rose Hill Cemetery in Wentworth. Visitation will be one hour prior to services on Friday. The service will be live-streamed on the St. Peter Lutheran Church Facebook page.

Virginia Anna Murschel Van Hunnik Huntimer was born October 30, 1927, in Webster, SD to Jacob and Anna (Weiger) Murschel.

Virginia graduated from Webster High School in 1945, destined to marry a “Bristol Boy’, whom she met at the local roller-skating rink. Virginia and Aries Van Hunnik Jr. were married in 1947. While Aries was studying for his teaching degree at Augustana, Virginia served as the secretary for the college’s president. After a brief stint in Lyons, SD, the couple settled in Canton, SD where they worked and raised their family. Summers were spent at Mount Rushmore where Aries worked as a seasonal park ranger and Virginia enjoyed her role as a ‘ranger wife’.

When her youngest daughter started school, Virginia took the role of secretary at E. O. Lawrence elementary school in Canton. Generations of students would remember her for being the lunch lady, marking off their names in the lunch line with her myriad of colored felt-tipped markers.

Following Aries’ passing in 1980, Virginia continued working at the school and was able to spend her summers as always, in the Black Hills, when she took on the role of supervisor of the Buffalo Dining Room at Mount Rushmore.

Virginia retired from the Canton School District in the early 1990’s and shortly after, left her beloved role with Mount Rushmore. The change was eased by a chance meeting at a VFW dance in Sioux Falls, when Max Huntimer passed her a note on a napkin. The two were married in 1994 and Virginia made a home for herself and Max in Wentworth, SD. Max died in 2007.

Virginia was involved in various clubs and organizations, most connected to her two passions, faith and family. She taught Sunday School, using her talent at the piano to accompany the children’s choirs.  She served as president of the Legion Auxiliary in Wentworth and enjoyed many years of involvement with the Red Hats.

She was a woman of faith, a testimony she shared with others through her compassion. A determination to work hard, and her focus on the importance of work, defined her life and she passed that ethic on to future generations of her family.

She is survived by daughters Mona (Brian) Hexom, and Jona (Rick) Schmidt; grandchildren Dawn Semrau, Allie (Jason) Crittenden, Kirstie (Brett) Ross, and Chase Bunting; and great grandchildren Harrison Semrau, Jackson, Garrett, and Charlotte Virginia Crittenden, and Boone and Calhan Ross.

She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers Lawrence and Clarence, and husbands Aries Van Hunnik Jr., and Max Huntimer.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Rose Hill Cemetery in Wentworth or to a local cat rescue organization.

Arrangements are with the Ellsworth Funeral Home in Madison.