Virginia Marie Dahmes

Virginia Dahmes, 90, of New Ulm and formerly of Redwood Falls, died Friday, July 6, 2012 at Prairie Senior Cottages in New Ulm. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, July 10, 2012 from Harvest Baptist Church in Redwood Falls with burial to follow in New Avon Salem Cemetery, rural Wabasso. Visitation will be held Monday, July 9, 2012, from 5 until 8 p.m., at the Nelson-Martin Funeral Home in Redwood Falls and will continue at the church on Tuesday for one hour prior to services.

Arrangements are with Nelson-Martin Funeral Service of Redwood Falls. E-mail condolences may be sent via www.nelsonmartinfuneralservice.com .

Virginia Marie Dahmes, the daughter of Bowen Cass Finfrock and Molly Caroline (Parks) Finfrock, was born July 1, 1922 in Whittier, California. The family resided in Rivera, California when Virginia was born but, as her father was a pastor and church planter, they moved almost every two years. During her high school years, she and her family resided on a ranch in Ventura, California. Following her graduation, Virginia began working the four-to-midnight shift at Douglas Aircraft Company in Long Beach, California. It was there that she became acquainted with fellow employee Roland Dahmes.

Virginia and Roland were married November 18, 1944 at the Presbyterian Church in Long Beach. As Roland was by then serving in the United States Army Air Force, they moved to El Paso, Texas where he was stationed; the couple’s first child, Suzanne, was born there. Following the war, the couple returned to the Dahmes farm near Redwood Falls. They moved to Richfield for a few years before moving back to rural Redwood Falls to farm. It was during these years that four more children were born – Sandi, Kenn, Ginifer and Steve. In 2006, they retired and moved into Redwood Falls; about a year later they relocated to Sleepy Eye and then to New Ulm.

While living on the farm, Virginia helped with the farm work; she was also an accomplished baker, florist, seamstress, and quilter. She was employed by Tersteegs, Blossom Town Greenhouse, and the Sandwich Shop. Virginia owned and operated “Grandma Ginny’s Boutique” in the 1980s, where she sold her hand-made children’s clothing. She was also the chief baker at Falls Café and a Wal-Mart cashier.

Virginia was a member of Harvest Baptist Church in Redwood Falls. She held membership in the Baptist church for many years and served as a Sunday school teacher and vocalist as well as arranging flowers and offering hospitality to all. Virginia loved to bake – especially pies and chocolate chip cookies. She enjoyed quilting, sewing, flower gardening and arranging, and spending time with her grandchildren.

Virginia is survived by her husband of 67 years, Roland, of New Ulm; and her children Sue (Dave) Heffernan of Sun Lakes, Arizona, Sandi Hardaway of Greenville, South Carolina, Kenn (Lori) Dahmes of Shoreview, Ginifer (Derk) Simon of Sleepy Eye, and Steve (Geri) Dahmes of Redwood Falls. Also surviving are her grandchildren Kim (Jeff) Winkleman of Spokane, Washington, and Christopher (Jen) Hardaway and Matthew Hardaway all of Greenville, South Carolina; Landon Dahmes of Rochester, Austen Dahmes of Fargo, North Dakota, and Ellie Dahmes of Shoreview; Clayton (Julie) Simon of New Ulm, Meisha (Keeran) Nicholls of Brookings, South Dakota, Bryce Simon of Sleepy Eye, Caleb Simon of St. Paul, and Jacan Simon of Brookings; Tony (Sarah) Dahmes of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Ben (Nicole) Dahmes of East Bethel, and Cassandra (Nick) Olson of Raymond. Further surviving are her nine great-grandchildren; and her sisters Patricia Welch of Ukiah, California, Marjorie (Guy) Hardin of Clarksville, Texas, and Betty Sanders of Santa Cruz, California. She was preceded in death by her parents, brothers Graydon and Paul, and sister Caroline.

In loving memory.