Virginia Schweigert, 93, Grand Forks, formerly Zeeland, ND, passed away Tuesday, August 10, 2021. Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, August 14 ^th at 11:00 AM at Zion Lutheran Church, 4 ^th St. & Co. Rd. 55, Zeeland, ND. Visitation will be held on Friday, August 13 ^th from 5-7 PM with a Devotion at 7:00 PM at Dahlstrom Funeral Home, 15 5 ^th St. S, Wishek, ND. Burial will be held at St. Andrew's Catholic Cemetery Southeast of Zeeland.

Virginia was born January 26, 1928, the daughter of Emma Brandner. She knew her father, though he was never a part of her life. She was raised on her grandparents' farm 10 miles north of Zeeland, surrounded and loved by her mother, grandparents, and eleven aunts and uncles. She was baptized and confirmed in St. Andrew's Lutheran Church near the Brandner Farm.

Virginia attended country school through eighth grade in a schoolhouse built by her Grandpa Fred and, as was the custom of the time for the "country girls", moved into town to attend high school alternating living with aunts Mary and Meda. While in high school, she spent noon hours, evenings, and weekends working at her Aunt Mary's café. Her mother Emma passed away on Prom Saturday during the spring of Virginia's junior year. Virginia adjusted, persevered, and thrived.

She graduated valedictorian of the Zeeland High Class of 1946. In high school she began dating Clarence Schweigert which led to a 10-year courtship, including Clarence's four years in the Air Force serving in the Korean Conflict. Following high school, she set off for Ellendale Normal School, earning a teacher's certificate in 1948. She began teaching country school that fall and did so for several years. She taught remedial reading, math and directed studies as a para-professional at Zeeland Public School until retirement in the mid-1990's.

On September 6, 1955, she married Clarence in the rectory of St. Andrew's Catholic Church in Zeeland. Their wedding was celebrated on a Tuesday, as was the custom of the time. Virginia and Clarence raised their family of six sons in Zeeland in a house built in 1958 by Clarence and his father John. Virginia sold farmland she had inherited from her mother to pay for what would be her home for the next 60 years. A notebook kept by Virginia detailing every construction expenditure still exists and is cherished by her family. Clarence passed away in 2000. Virginia moved to Grand Forks in 2017 to be closer to family. She was a resident of Valley Senior Living at the time of her death.

In addition to her career and raising a family, Virginia was an active member of Zion Lutheran Church, Zeeland Music Mothers, American Legion Auxiliary, and in later life Zeeland Lions Club and Zeeland Senior Citizens. She and Clarence were a constant presence at Zeeland High music and athletic events "following the boys" whether at home or on the road. She enjoyed reading, gardening, and canning her garden produce. She was known to fall asleep reading on the couch with a newspaper or magazine upon her face. Virginia's practical, no-nonsense presence was appreciated by family and friends.

Her former students will remember her for her dedication to their achievement as she patiently repeated lessons with them. Read, repeat. Read, repeat. Sound it out. In her later years, hardly a week went by that a former student didn't stop by to greet Virginia when in town. She took great pride in being able to teach three generations of many Zeeland families.

Her family will remember her as the epitome of a team player, our MVP. Like so many families of the era, Mom was the wheel that put everything into motion. Nothing happened without her consent and imprint. She set the expectation. True to the mothers of German-Russian heritage, Virginia lived by the adage, "Essen Ist Liebe." (Food is love.) Her rhubarb, prune, peach, and wedding kuchens were legendary and often requested for family & friends' wedding receptions. Her vegetable soup was crimson colored from garden grown beets, with a hint of fresh dill's inviting aroma flowing through open kitchen windows on perfect Sunday mornings. Her strudel dough stretched the length and width of the kitchen table before she gently rolled, cut, and placed it in a Dutch oven to rise and crisp. Always plenty for everyone, with leftovers for the road.

Grateful to have shared her life and learned from her wisdom are sons Keith, Fargo, Mahlon (Myrna), Hettinger,  Kent (Marilyn), Bismarck, Kyle "Bubba" (Laura), Grand Forks, Shannon (Holly), West Fargo; thirteen grandchildren, and eighteen great-grandchildren, her first grandchild Helen (Schweigert) Hutton of Grand Forks was her guardian angel in her last years. Wir lieben dich, Oma.

Virginia was preceded in death by her mother Emma; grandparents, Fred and Elizabeth Brandner; eleven aunts and uncles, husband Clarence, and eldest son Lowell.

Virginia's family wishes to express its appreciation for the care shown her by the staff of Valley Senior Living, Grand Forks. And for the incredible consideration and kindness shown her during her later years by the Zeeland Community.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are requested for the music program at Zeeland Public School.