Virginia (Sullivan) Stenseth

Published 10:58 am Friday, May 30, 2025

Virginia (Sullivan) Stenseth passed away on Monday, May 19, 2025 at Good Samaritan Society in Albert Lea, Minnesota.

Virginia was born on December 16, 1930 in Twin Lakes, MN to Louis and Gertrude (Donahue) Sullivan. After graduating from Albert Lea High School in 1948, she worked in the office of Wilson & Company until 1950 when she moved to Oakland, California. In 1952 she moved to Baltimore, Maryland where she met her best friend and they had many wonderful adventures. She may have even danced on a table or two, if you can believe it, before returning to Albert Lea in 1961.

On July 8, 1961, Virginia was united in marriage to Duane “Doc” Stenseth at St. Theodore Catholic Church. They were blessed with two adopted children: Eric and Valerie. Family was one of the most important things in her life and her love and support were unwavering. She looked forward to the times spent with her children and grandchildren, especially attending their music performances and sporting events. Virginia and Doc loved to cultivate their large garden and meals were always filled with fresh grown vegetables and fruit. Virginia was also a wonderful baker with her brownies, in particular, being second to none. They were requested for every family gathering.

After moving back to Albert Lea, Virginia was employed at the following companies: Universal Milking Machine Co, Bob and Joe’s Supermarket, Universal Cooperatives until the company closed in 1985 and then at National Welding Co. which later became Airgas, Inc. She retired from Airgas in 2003. Virginia was a member of St. Theodore Catholic Church. She was a member of the Naeve Hospital Auxiliary and volunteered at the Mayo Clinic coffee shop, Senior Resources, and bloodmobile canteens. She enjoyed bowling, watching the Minnesota Twins, and listening to country music. She especially enjoyed the monthly luncheons with the Universal gals.

Virginia is survived by her daughter, Valerie, and husband Jeremy Richter of Libertyville IL; daughter-in-law, Tracy Stenseth of Cedar Rapids IA; grandchildren, Logan (Stenseth) of Minneapolis MN, Kendall (Stenseth) of Clarksville TN, Ethan (Richter) of Libertyville IL, Casey (Richter) of Libertyville IL; sisters-in-law Margaret (Stenseth) Johnson and Shirley Stenseth.

She was preceded in death by her husband Duane “Doc”; her parents, Louis and Gertrude; her son, Eric; sisters, Helen and husband Arnold Moen, Lois and husband Glenn Ziemer, Maxine and husband Arthur Pricco; brothers, Eugene Sullivan and wife Dorothy, John Sullivan and wife Joann, Paul Sullivan and wife Agatha, and Robert Sullivan; sisters-in-law Stella and husband Andrew Skogheim; brothers-in-law, Ervin Stenseth and wife Olga, Orville Stenseth, George Stenseth, James Stenseth and wife Beverly, Philip Stenseth, Harris Johnson.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00PM on Friday, June 13, 2025, at Bonnerup Funeral & Cremation Services, with a visitation beginning one hour prior to the service. Burial will be in Hillcrest Cemetery, in Albert Lea.

“Memories are the timeless treasures of the heart.”