Virginia Lichtenheld

MISSOULA - Virginia Lichtenheld, 89, a longtime Great Falls resident who lived at an assisted-living facility in Missoula for the past two years, died of natural causes Thursday at her Missoula home.
Her memorial service is 1:30 p.m. April 5 at the First Presbyterian Church in Great Falls, followed by a reception at the Meadow Lark Country Club. Cremation has taken place under the direction of Garden City Funeral Home, with burial of ashes in the Van Brussel family area of the historic Forest Home Cemetery in Mount Pleasant, Iowa.
She is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Brad and Kathy Lichtenheld, recently of Eagle, Colo.; a daughter and son-in-law, Mary Ellen and Christopher Henningsen of Missoula; two granddaughters, Megan Henningsen and Bromley Henningsen of the Seattle area; and a grandson, Brian Lichtenheld of Boulder, Colo.
Born Virginia Van Brussel in Mount Pleasant, Iowa, where she spent her childhood, she belonged to a Camp Fire Girls group, the members of which remained in contact into their adult lives, despite the fact they were dispersed throughout the country. Virginia was responsible for keeping these women in contact into their 80s.
In 1941, she graduated cum laude from Iowa Wesleyan College, with a bachelor of arts degree in home economics and English, and was a member of the Alpha XI Delta social sorority.
During World War II, Virginia taught English in Iowa public high schools, prior to working for a major advertising agency in Chicago. She married Robert K. Lichtenheld in 1946; he preceded her in death in 1982.
Virginia and husband "Bob" Lichtenheld, a Missoula and Great Falls businessman for many years, came to Great Falls by way of Mason City, Iowa; Madison, Wis.; and Missoula in 1955; before moving in 1959 to Great Falls, where she resided until returning to Missoula in early 2006, to be with family there. During her initial years in Great Falls, she was employed by the public school system as a substitute high school teacher.
A member of the First Presbyterian Church of Missoula, and subsequently in Great Falls, Virginia served as a care minister and participated in the Mary/Martha Church Circle. In Missoula, she was a founding member of Chapter AT, P.E.O. in 1956, and continued in Great Falls, where she was part of Chapter AR, P.E.O. She enjoyed volunteering; working 25 years in the YWCA "Nearly New/Y's Buys Shop." She also was actively involved in the Salvation Army Auxiliary, where she helped sponsor the annual antique luncheon and sale fundraiser, having taken interest in the areas of collectable glassware, china and silver. Socially, she enjoyed her Friday Book Club, the Great Falls Symphony and other musical events. She was a C.M. Russell Museum supporter and particularly appreciated the table linens at the Meadow Lark Country Club, where she was a member for many years. She enjoyed walking around her neighborhood, as well as reading local and big city newspapers. Virginia also had a special talent and passion for meal planning, cooking and baking, and was especially known in Great Falls for her orange rolls. An avid University of Montana Grizzlies football fan, she stayed current on the team's wins and losses.
In addition to her husband, she also was preceded in death by grandson, John Lichtenheld.
The family especially extends thanks to the staff of The Springs of Missoula and the Hospice of Missoula. In lieu of flowers, suggestions for memorial contributions include the First Presbyterian Church of Great Falls and the C.M. Russell Museum in Great Falls. Sisters of P.E.O. may send memorials to the educational loan fund.
Condolences may be posted online at www.gftribune.com/obituaries.