Virginia Lee Thompson, 86 of Northwood, Iowa, died Thursday, Jan. 21, 2010, at Luther Midelfort Oakridge in Osseo, Wis. 
A funeral service for Virginia will be held at 1 p.m. Monday at the First Lutheran Church, 309 N. Ninth St. in Northwood, with the Rev. Daniel R. Hart officiating. Burial will be in the Sunset Rest Cemetery in Northwood.  Visitation will be held from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. on Sunday at the Conner Colonial Chapel, 1008 First Ave. S. in Northwood. Visitation will also be held one hour prior to service time on Monday at the church. 
Virginia Lee Thompson was born on July 28, 1923, in Worth County, Iowa, the daughter of Leslie Abraham and Bertha Irene (Johnson) McHenry. Virginia graduated from Northwood High School in 1940, and Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Virginia began her teaching career in Northwood before her marriage to John B. Thompson on Sept. 2, 1945, in Northwood. To this union two children were born, Lucretia and Lewis. John preceded Virginia in death on Sept. 8, 1995. John and Virginia moved to Albuquerque, N.M. in 1948, where her husband John worked for Southern Union Gas Company until 1955, when Virginia and John owned and operated the JD One-Stop and car wash in Northwood, and also built the Viking Restaurant and the trailer park in Northwood. 
Virginia enjoyed “Life” as well as her family and many friends.   
Virginia was a member of First Lutheran Church in Northwood, past president and member of Anna Circle, taught Sunday school for 62 years, taught Bible school at Elk Creek and First Lutheran Church, adult Bible school and Bethel Bible Course for four years, First Lutheran Women president in 1966, delegate to many church conventions, secretary to Maricopa County Auditor in Phoenix, Ariz., Entre Nous Study Club for 25 years, was a Girl Scout leader for four years, participated in bridge club in Northwood, was part of the American Legion Ladies Auxiliary for 16 years, was an Our Buddies Veterans of Foreign Wars Ladies auxiliary and charter member since 1946 and 3rd district president, attended annual lay academy sessions and Bible study presentations at Wartburg Seminary for 23 years, wasw the secretary of ALCW conference for six years, treasurer of congregate meals in Northwood for three years and Mason City conference secretary of stewardship ALCW for three years.   
Those left to cherish her memory are her two children, Lucretia (Gerald) Ferley of Northwood, and the Rev. Lewis John (Karen) Thompson of Osseo, Wisconsin; six grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren; a brother, Arlynn (Ruth) McHenry, of Northwood; as well as other extended family members and friends.
Her parents, Leslie and Bertha McHenry; her husband, John B. Thompson; her sister, Verna Mae Pixley; brother-in-law, Robert Pixley, and sister-in-law, June Lancaster preceded Virginia in death.