Find A Grave Memorial# 92565433
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Virginia Basinger, 98, of Bemidji, MN died Wed. May 9, 2012 at Colleen's Caring Hands, Bemidji, MN.
Memorial Services will be 2:00 p.m., Friday, May 25, 2012 at First Presbyterian Church, Bemidji with Pastor Lou Ellen Hartley officiating. Family will greet friends one hour prior to the service at the church. Coffee and cake will be served immediately following the service. Inurnment will be in Greenwood Cemetery. Arrangements were entrusted to the Olson-Schwartz Funeral Home.
Virginia Cornelia Chatfield was born to George and Gertrude Chatfield at Momence, IL. At the age of 6 her family moved to East Grand Forks, MN where they had a dairy farm and milk delivery service. The family moved to Blackduck, MN when she was 15 years old. She went to high school here her first year. The rest of her high school years were at Bemidji High School. She stayed in Bemidji and worked for her board and room after school and weekends. She attended French's Business College for one year. In 1953 she married Albert Sandstrom and moved out to Lavinia where they operated the grocery store and post office. Mr. Sandstrom and friend, Albert Krueger, went fishing on Lake Bemidji early in May of 1941, Mr. Krueger suffered a fatal heart attack, tipping their boat over and Mr. Sandstrom drowned. Virginia later moved back into town and worked at the Palace Grocery store. She later worked at Omera's ladies ready to wear store. In 1947 Virginia married Clarence Gordhamer who later became the City of Bemidji's finance officer. Virginia was now working for Dr. Klares , an optometrist. She worked for him until 1957 when he died suddenly. At this time Dr. Le Roy Hill, an optometrist, bought out the Klares practice and she worked there for 19 years before she retired. After both she and Clarence had retired they traveled to Texas and California. Clarence died in 1995. In 1998 Virginia married Jule Basinger who died December 2010.
She is survived by her niece Marilyn F. Prisby and her husband of Big Sandy, TN; sister-in-law, Alfa Klot and niece Janice Ullrich of Detroit Lakes; also great friends and considered family, LeRoy and Lois Hill & family of Bemidji.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husbands; and two half brothers, Harwell and Donald Kent.
