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In memory of

Virginia Harty

of Philip, South Dakota, died on Monday, August 7, 2006 at the Maryhouse Sub Acute Center in Pierre at the age of 96

Mary Virginia Gillaspie was born March 18, 1910, on her grandparents’ homestead at Kimbro, South Dakota, the daughter of Thomas H. and Lelia (Kimbro) Gillaspie. She grew up in the Ottumwa area and attended rural schools in that community. She attended Midland High School for three years prior to graduating from Mt. Marty Academy in Yankton. She taught rural school in Haakon and Jones counties for eleven years.

Virginia was united in marriage to Leo S. Harty on May 20, 1939, in Milesville, South Dakota. They made their home in Timber Lake where Leo worked for Farm Security Administration. Later, they moved to Bison and then to Pierre. In 1942, they moved to a farm-ranch in the Milesville area, which they continued to operate until retiring in the late 1960’s. After her husband’s death on March 29, 1995, she continued to reside on the farm-ranch until 2000, when she moved into Philip due to health reasons. In 2003, she moved to Maryhouse in Pierre, where she has since resided.

Grateful for having shared her life include three sons Tom Harty and his wife Helen of Milesville, Hugh Harty and his wife Delia of Milesville, and Pat Harty and his wife Linda of Pierre; nine grandchildren, Tommy Harty and his wife Alice, and Victoria Cook and her husband Chandler, Moneik, James, and Edward Harty, and Nicole Molseed and her husband Sam, Bryan, Gianna, and Matthew Harty; three great-grandchildren Jacob Thomas Molseed, Michael Victor Molseed, and William Thomas Cook; and a host of other relatives and friends.

In addition to her husband Leo, Virginia was preceded in death by one brother Thomas Gillaspie, and two sisters Margaret Reiman and Lelia Maeder.

Visitation was held 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. with a vigil service at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 9, all at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Philip.

Mass of Christian Burial was held 2:00 p.m. Thursday, August 10, at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, with Father Ron Garry as celebrant.

Interment was in the Masonic Cemetery.

A memorial is established.

MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL
Thursday, August 10, 2006 2:00 p.m.
Sacred Heart Catholic Church
Philip, South Dakota

CELEBRANT
Father Ron Garry

MUSIC
Marianne Frein – Organist
Joe and Kathy Gittings – Vocalists
"Holy God, We Praise Thy Name" #199
"Loving And Forgiving" #443
"Immaculate Mary" #205
"O Loving God" #660
"When Irish Eyes Are Smiling"

EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS
Leo Patton-Joan Patton-Keith Emerson

LECTOR
Dan Piroutek

ALTAR SERVERS
Abby Carley-Danielle Piroutek

USHERS
Floren Falzone-Steve Pekron

ACTIVE PALLBEARERS
Virginia’s Grandchildren and Spouses
Tommy Harty-Alice Harty
Victoria Cook – Chandler Cook
Moneik Harty-James Harty-Ed Harty
Nicole Molseed-Sam Molseed
Bryan Harty-Gianna Harty-Matthew Harty

HONORARY PALLBEARERS
All Relatives and Friends in Attendance

INTERMENT
Masonic Cemetery
Philip, South Dakota

MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL
Thursday, August 10, 2006 2:00 p.m.
Sacred Heart Catholic Church
Philip, South Dakota

  • I will miss Aunt Virginia. I remember going to her house every fall. I remember her in the kitchen singing and always happy. 00 ~ Wendy Maeder 2025 E. Campbell Ave. #257, Phoenix, AZ 85016 (8/7/2006)
  • No matter when it happens, saying goodbye to a mother and grandmother is a time of great sadness filled with a rush of great memories. Know you are all in our thoughts and prayers, especially you, Delia and Hugh, may you be strengthened and comforted by the only One who truly knows how...our precious savior. We are praying His best for you all. ~ Rocky and Rebecca Williams Philip, SD (8/7/2006)
  • I have memories of Aunt Virginia and Uncle Leo as a small girl, my Grandmother, Gertude (Harty) Burns sister of Leo talked of her often, and my Mother, Catherine (Burns) Mathieson, was very close to her Aunt Virginia, I'm so sorry for your loss, my thoughts and Prayers are with all of you. We are all thinking of you here in Spokane. God be with you, Donna K. ~ Donna K. (Mathieson) Johnson 2619 W. Longfellow, Spokane, WA 99208 (8/7/2006)
  • I have fond memories of visiting Virginia's house with Moneik. She was an wonderful lady who will be missed by many. You are in our prayers. ~ Joe and Amy (Piroutek) Hogue South Bend, Indiana (8/7/2006)
  • I am sorry to hear of your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you. ~ Lianne (Bierwagen) Bjugstad PO Box 1028, Lisbon, ND 58054 (8/7/2006)
  • My sincere sympathy to you in the loss of your mother and grandmother. Virginia was always such a pleasant person to visit with. I know you will miss her. Elaine ~ Elaine Staben 777 Haggerty Lane #8, Bozeman, MT 59715 (8/7/2006)
  • I remember staying at Aunt Virginia and Uncle Leo's house a lot. She put up with me being on a horse all the time...I guess I was a huge tomboy because I spent a lot of time outside playing cowboy and such. Of course, we also puttered in her huge garden and picked strawberries for my dad because he loved them too. I remember making homemade ice cream and I never went home with out a package or two of "cow butter"...also known as real homemade butter. which I might (or might not) have helped make. As I grew older, I remember how she and uncle Leo let Marvin and I stay at their house when I was teaching at the King School, until our trailer was ready..and helping butcher chickens...nobody could cut up or clean a chicken faster than Mom and Aunt Virginia. She was responsible for a lot of great memories for me. I'll miss her...even though I haven't been close enough to visit for many years. ~ Micaela Nelson 600 E. Ash #1, Mitchell, SD (8/7/2006)
  • I remember when we were all kids, I would ride out to Milesville to Sunday mass with Father O'Connor. After mass I would get to go to the Harty's for a few days to stay with Tom, Hugh and Pat. Virginia would spend all day in the kitchen cooking and cooking and cooking the best food I had ever eaten. And not just a little bit of it either. She used to say to me: "Tommy, you can't get by in life as a skinny little kid. You've got to have meat on your bones". By the time I got back to town, I definitely had more meat on my bones. I never spent a night at the Harty place when the whole family didn't recite the rosary. I don't think they ever missed a night. Those are some of the fondest memories I have of growing up. She was one of the nicest people you would ever run into. I'm sure her whole family will be missing her. ~ Tom Husband 13089 Timber Lane, Rapid City, SD 57702 (8/7/2006)
  • Moneik & family,
    I cannot imagine the sadness your are experiencing right now with the loss of your grandmother...I know you were very close. May peace and love surround you and your family in the coming days. With love from eastern SD, Nichole & Jon Kennedy     ~ Nichole & Jon Kennedy 407 Tessa Ave., Hartford, SD (8/7/2006)
  • Beloved Aunt and Godmother ~ Maxine Maeder 566 Old Hwy. 100, Villa Ridge, MO 63089 (8/7/2006)
  • Moneik God bless you and your family our thoughts and prayers are with you ~ Neil and Joan Agrasto New York (8/7/2006)