Virginia Oates Klein, age 95, passed away on November 4, 2024, at Edgewood Assisted Living facility in Spearfish, SD.  After a short illness she died peacefully while surrounded by her family and loved ones.

Virginia was born on May 3, 1929, in Beloit, Wisconsin, where she grew up until 1948 when she married Dean Hinmon who was also of Beloit.  They moved to Minneapolis, MN while Dean received his degrees, and they lived in California, Michigan and Minnesota over the time of raising their four children, Michael, Jeffrey, Peter, and Susan.

Through these years Virginia and Dean travelled all over the United States and in Europe, and lived for a year in Ethiopia while Dean worked for the UN.  They also lived for a year in Sarasota Florida.  While raising her children, Virginia was a cub scout and boy scout leader and active in the Catholic church and other local organizations throughout the years.  After she and Dean divorced in 1976 Virginia began working as an Office Manager in the Department of Residential Life at the University of Minnesota Morris.

While working at the University, Virginia enjoyed her many friends in Morris, went on several cruises, and traveled regularly, often by small plane, with her close friend Willard Micklish who was also of Morris.  Virginia loved to travel and during these years she travelled by herself to Spain and also to Yugoslavia, both times to visit her sister Helen who was living there.

In 1993, Virginia met Jerry Klein on Terry Peak outside of Lead, while visiting her daughter Susan and family. Eighteen months later, Virginia retired, and she and Jerry moved to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, where they married and lived until they relocated to Spring Green, Wisconsin in 1998.  In Spring Green, Virginia was an active member of the church and worked to help provide mass at the local nursing home.

After Jerry passed away in 2015, Virginia moved to the Black Hills, South Dakota area with her daughter, Susan, and her husband Jack.  She lived with them for nine years in her own apartment adjoining their home until the summer of 2024, when she needed more assistance and support for balance and stability and moved to Edgewood Assisted Living in Spearfish.

Virginia was a shining star for all in her life.  She had a gentle kindness and an ability to see the best in everyone and to make them feel special.  She had a natural curiosity and interest in the experiences of others and enjoyed a good chat and good laughs with her closest family and friends.  She could always be counted on to have all the time in the world for whomever might need or want it.  All who knew her will miss her sweet twinkling-eyed smile and the feeling she gave that everything will be okay.

She is survived by her sister Marilyn, her son Michael, her son Jeffrey and his wife Susan, her daughter Susan and her husband Jack. granddaughter Virginia, her husband Justin, grandson Carl and partner Tristyn, great-grandchildren Noah (20), Bella (16), Evelyn (8), Louella (5) and Marie (4).  She was preceded in death by numerous loved ones, family and friends.

Cremation arrangements were under the care of Isburg Crematory of Spearfish.