Virginia Lea Eskildsen

Virginia Lea Kienenberger Eskildsen, 100, was born on March 29 1925 to Ruth Shaw Kienenberger and Walter “Ding” Clevland Kienenberger on the family farm north of Dodson. She was the second of what was to become 11 children. She attended school at the Longview school and then boarded in Dodson and went to high school.  As a young woman she worked in many local restaurants, The Sweet Shop, Anderson’s Cafe, The Coffee Cup, also the dining room at the Havre hospital and in a cafe in Cut Bank.  She met Leslie “Joe” at Kate Prays and they were married in January of 1947 and farmed southeast of Malta .  Virginia, Ginny to friends, Billie to her family was a wonderful cook, there was always some treat for anyone dropping by and she loved hosting big family gatherings and dinners for friends. Known for cut out sugar cookies and melt in your mouth caramels at Christmas and her fabulous fruit platters.She was a member of Garden club and always had a beautiful yard and an abundance of flowers she was happy to share in rose bowls and bouquets. She volunteered with the Red Cross for years and held dear her lifetime membership in the V.F. W. auxiliary, something she did to honor her father, husband and brothers. She was a bit of a crafter and made gifts for relatives and friends, many children enjoyed the activity books she made. She just loved kids and especially babies. She and Joe had many enjoyable trips with the V.F.W., the last was a wonderful trip to Italy with friends. They went to Hawaii every winter for 40 years and made many friends there. She was preceded in death by her mother Ruth in 1943  , father Walt in 1984, stepmom Dorthy in 2004  , sisters Dot and Betty Lou, brothers Hoot, Bud, Charlie, Doug, and the love of her life Joe.  She is survived by brothers Dean, Bruce and Ted, sister Sherry and her daughter Loy and son in law Shane Patterson. No services are planned.

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