Virginia Bird “Ginny” MacDonald
courtesy photo
Virginia MacDonald
POLSON – Virginia Bird “Ginny” MacDonald, age 92, passed away at home in Polson, Montana, on Wednesday, July 15, 2015. She was born on June 21, 1923, in Butte, to Francis “Frank” W. and Zoe (Duncan) Bird. She had five siblings, Kathleen (Kay) Bird Parkin, Frank (Bud) Bird, Robert, Thomas and Philip.
She graduated from Butte High School, attended Annie Wright Seminary in Tacoma, Washington; University of Washington and graduated from Northwestern University in Chicago, Illinois, where she majored in music and voice. Ginny was a member of the Pi Phi Sorority.
Patrick Largey MacDonald and Virginia Lee Bird were married in the St. Ignatius Mission on Aug. 2, 1947. They were married for 37 years at the time of Largey’s death in November 1986.
Ginny’s Butte heritage and Flathead Lake combined, made for a magnificent well lived life of a dearly beloved woman who kept us all in tune with her perfect pitch.
She was active in the music and art community, because of that her friends were varied and many. She taught voice and piano for many years, very generous with her instruction and encouragement. She had a genuine interest in others. Ginny was patient and kind with an Irish twinkle in her eye, a great sense of humor, rye and dry.
Her strong faith gave her strength and courage. She was active in the Immaculate Conception Parish Music Ministry. She was an inspiring matriarch and loving mother.
She painted the canvas of our lives with brush strokes and patience, vulnerability and tenderness, creating colorful masterpieces of course!
She was preceded in death by the Bird family and her husband Patrick Largey MacDonald.
Survivors include her children, Victoria of Olympia, Washington, Gregory MacDonald and wife Linn of Moab, Utah and Mary MacDonald and Mark MacDonald both of Polson; grandchildren, Taryn Harrison and Lyssia MacDonald Merriman; great-grandchildren, Grace and Lewis Merriman; numerous nieces and nephews from the Bird and MacDonald clans.
“Some swans die before they sing. Some swans sing before they die.”
Thank you for sharing your angelic voice. We love you mom.
There will be a Vigil service on Thursday, July 23, 2015, at 7 p.m. at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Polson. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, July 24, at 10:30 a.m. at the church.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Lower Flathead Valley Community Foundation, P.O. Box 255, Ronan, MT 59864 or to the charity of your choice.
Memories and condolences may be sent to the family at www.thelakefuneralhomeandcrematory.com.
Arrangements are under the direction of The Lake Funeral Home and Crematory.
