Virginia Evridge of Spearfish, South Dakota May 7, 1931 – January 27, 2019 Virginia Elaine Evridge (nee Howell), 87, of Spearfish passed away Sunday, January 27, 2019 at Seven Sisters Living Center in Hot Springs. She is survived by her seven children: Benjamin and Irene Evridge (children, Garrett, Gail, Meredith and Mia), Pamela and Carl Waisanen (children, Emily Johnson, April Dailey and Carl Waisanen II), Sally Evridge, Caroline Evridge (child, Sybylla Lindert), Frances Gillette (children, Austin and Lindsey), Robert and Ann Evridge (children, Samuel and William) and Jim and Jennifer Evridge (and children, Molly, Katie and Olen. ) Virginia is also survived by nine great-grandchildren: Espen, Francis, Esther, Kimber, Davian, Ansley, Garett, Brock and Isaiah, sister, Delores Moore; two brothers, Richard “Rex” and Art Hesalius and dear brother-in-law, Frederick Carothers.
Virginia was preceded in death by her mother, Ola Naomi Koch; father, Otis Howell; brother, Mervyn Howell and sister, Frances Carothers. Virginia was born May 7, 1931 in Newcastle, Wyoming. She met and married Nelson Evridge in Nebraska and the couple settled in South Dakota, living in Sturgis and St. Onge.
They were divorced in 1972. Nelson preceded her in death in August of 2014. Virginia attended Black Hills State College and was one of the two women in the Science Education Program.
She and fellow student, Charmaine White Face became dear friends for life. They both received a Bachelor of Science in Education in 1971. She became a social worker in Deadwood, SD.
She lived in Ketchikan and Fairbanks AK, where she also worked as a social worker in the 1970’s and 1980’s. She moved back to SD and worked for the Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station in Rapid City. The USDA Forest Service, where she worked named a library after her.
She was an avid hiker and camper in the Black Hills. Virginia loved reading, her grandchildren, gardening, science and listening to NPR. She had an extensive vocabulary developed from studying Latin and her frequent reading habit, which she passed on to her children.
She also had an appreciation for word play, jokes, fine music, witt and humor. She understood scientific issues, was engaged politically and carefully listened to the news. Some of her favorite music was by Eric Clapton, her “secret crush” (“Unplugged” in particular).
Her family enjoyed playing music together; Virginia and her father on violin, her sister Delores on piano and her brother Mervyn on saxophone. Both friends and family are grateful for the many years spent in Virginia’s company. Visitation will be from 4pm-6pm, on Friday, February 1, 2019 at Fidler-Isburg Funeral Chapel in Spearfish.
Funeral services will be at 10am, Saturday, February 2, 2019 at the United Congregational Church in St. Onge, with burial to follow at Rose Hill Cemetery in Spearfish. A memorial is being established for a scholarship at Black Hills State University. Arrangements are under the care Fidler-Isburg Funeral Chapel & Isburg Crematory of Spearfish.
Online condolences may be written at www.
If you found any mistakes, or you would like to add/remove to this obituary, please contact us by email: info@obituary.memorial. We never ask money for this.
