Obituary of Virginia South Solyntjes

Virginia was born on August 19th, 1928 in Glasgow, Montana to Harry Ells-worth South and Elsie Katherine Dahl. After graduating from St. Catherine University with a BA in Spanish, she briefly led the high school band and chorus in a small Minnesota town before marrying Leo Solyntjes and staying home to raise a family. When Leo died in 1968, Virginia learned all that it meant to care for their children alone. During that time she earned a Master's Degree in American Studies at the University of Minnesota, earned her real estate license and worked at Prudential Life insurance. Her love of music and playing the piano continued throughout her entire life, hosting sing-a-longs, playing for casual gatherings and meal-times, and occasionally performing in small ensembles. Other loves included reading, watercolor painting, and listening to and teaching others about the music of American songwriters George and Ira Gershwin, Jerome Kern, Cole Porter, and Irving Berlin. Virginia spent her final year in an assisted living home for elderly women where her sister, Janet South, lived until her death in July 2016. The care she received from both family and staff allowed Virginia to live peacefully in her final months. Virginia was preceded in death by her husband Leo, sister Janet, and son John. She is survived by her sons Alan (Patrice) and Tom, daughter Janet (Jeff), as well as her grandchildren Sarah (Matt), Dana, Steven and great-grandchildren Leo and Edwin. We'd like to thank Susan and her wonderful assistants at Cecilia's Place in Richfield for their constant, careful, loving devotion to our mother. We were able to be at ease with her in their care.