Virginia Monroe

Virginia Monroe (83) died June 26, 2024, after a brief battle with cancer. Born Helen Virginia Wingfield on July 22, 1940, she was the third daughter of Ruby Hagerud Wingfield and George Wingfield. After her parents divorced and Ruby remarried Raymond Grell, Virginia grew up on a farm near Ventura, Iowa. During her time at Ventura High School, she excelled in basketball, choir and theater, was the Salutatorian of her graduating class in 1958, and was named Miss Ventura.

After graduation, Virginia attended the University of Iowa, majoring in theater. Eventually, she graduated with a degree in Psychology and went on to get an M.A. in Child Psychology. In the Spring of 1964, Virginia met J. Donald Monroe. It was love at first sight. Don and Virginia were married two months later and spent 56 years together. With the encouragement of her husband, Virginia went on to earn a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from the University of Iowa, graduating in 1968 and worked on early drafts of the Iowa Test of Basic Skills. Virginia worked as a school psychologist for a time in Oshkosh, Wisconsin before joining the faculty of the University of South Dakota in Vermillion where she was a professor for 28 years.

Virginia and Don raised their daughters, Shawnthea and Kaia, in Vermillion, and the family spent many happy years boating on the Missouri River, performing in the USD summer musicals and taking summer vacations in their Ford LTD station wagon.

After Virginia and Don retired from USD in 2000, they spent 2 ½ years in Taiwan teaching English at the University of Tainan and traveling the world. Don and Virginia lived in Vermillion, SD, Sun City West, AZ, Cleveland, OH, and, most recently, in Hamden, CT.

Virginia loved to travel, especially with her beloved sisters, Ardella and Dolores. She enjoyed throwing parties, acting in community theater, singing in choral groups, playing bridge, and spending time with her family. She will be remembered as an intelligent, talented, beautiful woman who made the most of her life.

Virginia was preceded in death by her husband Don, sisters Ardella Enoch and Dolores Boehnke, and brother Stanley Grell. She is survived by her daughters Shawnthea Monroe (Neil Mueller) and Kaia Monroe Rarick (Parrish), her grandchildren Walter Mueller (Kayla), Clara Mueller, Renold Mueller, Jameson and Eli Rarick, as well as a circle of cherished friends.

There will be a Virginia-style happening in her honor on Saturday, July 27, 2024, in Vermillion, South Dakota. In lieu of flowers, the family invites contributions to the USD Alumni Foundation’s First Nighter Endowed Scholarship.