Virginia McConnell
RONAN — Virginia Reichard McConnell, 97, died of natural causes in St. Luke Hospital in Ronan on Dec. 3, 2013. She was born on Feb. 8, 1916, to Clarence and Elsie Reichard in Ronan. She attended schools in Ronan. She and her sister Marge helped on her parents’ Round Butte sheep ranch. It was there she met a young cowboy named Perry McConnell. They fell in love and were married in Polson in June 2, 1932.
Except for brief periods of time they spent in Darby and Wyoming, they lived their lives in the Mission Valley, mostly around Ronan, while raising eight children. Virginia worked at several cafes and stores in Ronan. She was known for her great cooking, her pinochle playing and her fierce pride in her children.
Virginia’s parents, her sister Marjory Smith, her husband and three children, sons George and Arnold and daughter Maxine Ganieany all preceded her in death. Her sons Kenneth (Ernestine) of Casper, Wyo., Clarence (Julie) of St. Ignatius and Greg (Diane) of Kennewick, Wash. and daughters Marjorie McMurtrie of Pleasant Hill, Ore. and Marlene Ganieany of Idaho Falls, Idaho survive her, as well as many grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.
Cremation has taken place. In compliance with her wishes, no funeral service will be held.
