Virgil Lenling

Virgil Lenling, 79, formerly of Glencross, passed away November 13, 2023, in Cuthbert, Georgia. The viewing will be held at Kesling's Funeral Home on Tuesday, November 21st from 5-7pm CST. Funeral services will be at Zion Lutheran Church in Mobridge on November 22, 2023, at 10:30am CST.
Virgil passed away peacefully under the care of Georgia Hospice and the Fellowship Home of Cotton Hall. Virgil resided in Georgia near his daughter Jaci after suffering a traumatic brain injury in December of 2020 while wintering in Arizona.
Virgil Antone Lenling was born to Armin (Ole) and Margaret (Reiss) Lenling on March 13, 1944, in Mobridge, SD. He was the first of two children. He grew up in the Glencross area and attended school in Glencross and Timber Lake. He worked odd jobs around the Mobridge area in the early 60's. He was always very proud of the fact that he helped build the Mobridge High School.
On September 17, 1965, Virgil married Ruby Naasz. Shortly thereafter, they moved from Mobridge to the family farm near Glencross. Virgil and Ruby worked on his Parents' farm until the death of his father in 1970. After the death of Ole, Margaret moved into Mobridge and Virgil took over the farm. During their marriage, three children were born. Steven in 1966, Tracy in 1969, and Jaci in 1979.
One of Virgil's greatest hobbies was guns. He was a licensed FFA dealer for many decades. He loved to buy/sell guns, repair them, reload shells, hunt, and shoot trap. Over the years, he was involved with several gun clubs in the greater Mobridge area. He greatly enjoyed the time spent with friends and family from out of town that would come for pheasant and deer season. In the 80's and 90's taught the Hunter's Safety Course in the area schools for the young hunters.
His greatest passion was in airplanes. Although Virgil had been flying for years, he officially obtained his Private Pilot's License in 1979. Some of our greatest memories involve taking off from the grass strip he made in one of his pastures. In addition to flying for pleasure, Virgil also flew for JD Kesling and crop dusted for Terry Gross of West River Aerial in Timber Lake. He obtained his Instrument Rating in 1988. In 1989, he became the Airport Manager at Mobridge Airport. In 1991, he obtained his Multiengine Rating and his Flight Instructor License. In 2008, he obtained his Commercial Pilot's License. Over the next 25 years, Virgil taught many people how to fly, operated Civil Air Patrol Chapter, searched for lost cattle, gave airplane rides, and taught little kids about airplanes. He met and became friends with many wonderful people who traveled to Mobridge for various reasons-be it business, work, or pleasure. Over the course of his career, he served on the safety council for the FAA and served as Vice President of the South Dakota Airport Management Association. In 2010, he was inducted into The South Dakota Municipal Airport Hall of Fame.
After Virgil left the Mobridge Airport in 2014, he traveled and began wintering in Wickenburg, Arizona. While there, he met many great people and made more lifelong friends.
Virgil is survived by his three children: Steve of Glencross, SD, Tracy of Selfridge, ND, and Jaci of Phenix City, AL, seven grandchildren: Paige, Justin, Aaron, Jacob, Hannah, Silas, and Roman, three great grandchildren: Emma, Delilah and Archer, his sister Shirley and brother-in-law, George of Hot Springs, SD, and his niece and nephews.
He was proceeded in death by his parents, Armin (Ole) and Margaret (Reiss) Lenling, his wife Ruby (Naasz) Lenling, sister-in-law Janice (Naasz) Thies, brother-in law Milbert "Red" Naasz, nephew Kelly Thies, and many other friends and family members that he greatly missed.
Pall bearers will be Tom Aberle, Tipton Marshall, Ronnie Lesnar, Shawn Madison, Andy Aberle, and Stanley Lesnar. Honorary pall bearers are all of Virgil many friends and family.