Virginia E. "Ginny" West

Virginia "Ginny" West of Harrisburg and formerly of Watertown, SD passed away at the age of 101 on Thursday, June 20, 2024 in Sioux Falls.
Celebration of Life will be held 11:30am, with visitation one hour prior to the service, on Friday, June 28, 2024 at Wight & Comes Funeral Chapel in Watertown.
Interment will be at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Watertown.
Honorary pallbearers will be all of Ginny's family and friends.
Pallbearers will be Aaron Bauman, Zachary Bauman, Bryan Johnson, Seth Menholt and Charlie Menholt.
Virginia "Ginny" Elaine West was born in Gackle, ND on April 17, 1923 to Earle and Esther (Nichols) Johnson. She grew up in Sioux Falls, SD graduating from Washington High School in 1941. After graduation, she attended Nettleton College and received a secretarial degree.
Ginny worked in post broadcasting at the Sioux Falls Air Base where she met William "Bob" Robert Johnson. They were married on October 23, 1943; a son, Michael was born in 1947 and a daughter, Melanie, in 1951. After some years in Glenwood, MN the family moved to Watertown, SD.
Ginny worked at the law firm of Loucks, Oviatt and Bradshaw for eight years. She then began working at the Western Area Power Administration. There she met Wallace "Wally" West. They were married on April 7, 1977. Ginny retired from the Bureau in 1995.
She was an active member of Trinity Episcopal Church and served as their secretary-treasurer for 17 years.
Ginny enjoyed many years of bowling with her cousins and good friends; always looking forward to state tournaments.
After Wally's death in 2008 Ginny moved to Sioux Falls to live with her daughter and family. In 2014 they moved to Harrisburg, SD.
Ginny passed away on June 20, 2024 at the Dougherty Hospice House after a brief illness.
Over her many years she was blessed with two children, Michael (Shirley) Johnson and Melanie (Bob) Bauman; three grandchildren, Aaron (Jenny) Bauman, Sarah Bauman and Bryan Johnson; ten great grandchildren, Zachary (Abbey) Bauman, Krisa Bauman, Adella Bauman, Anna Bauman, Zofie Bauman, Alexis Johnson, Ethan Johnson, Aidan Johnson, Seth Menholt, Charlie Menholt; two great-great grandchildren, Emmett and Cora Bauman; three nieces, Patti Grady, Paula Freese and Priscilla Vargason; and her nephew, Brian Johnson.
She will live in our hearts forever and we will cherish our time with her as 'Mom', 'Nana' and 'Aunt'.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Wally; brother, Earle Johnson; and niece, Pam "PJ" Johnson.
The family would like to express their sincere thanks to Interim Healthcare of Sioux Falls for the many months of home companion care they provided for Ginny and to the Dougherty Hospice House for their compassionate care in Ginny's final days.