Virginia Ferguson, age 97, of Huron, South Dakota, formerly of Philip, died on Friday, February 9, 2024 at the Avantara Huron Nursing Home.
Visitation will be held 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, February 14, 2024 at Rush Funeral Home in Philip.
Funeral services will be held 10:00 a.m. Thursday, February 15, 2024 at First Lutheran Church in Philip with Pastor Cindy Bisser officiating.
Interment with military honors will be held 1:30 p.m. Thursday, February 15, 2024 at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis.
Rachel “Virginia” Mosby was born October 29, 1926, at home in Sugar Camp Hollow, Kentucky, the second of five children born to Leon and Pearl (Coal) Mosby. The children were all taught, at an early age, how to drive a mule and were expected to help plant tobacco and corn. As she got older, Virginia stayed home and helped her mom, which was a blessing for her mother. One of Virginia’s first jobs at home was to make biscuits. They couldn’t keep bread very long because it was so damp, so they made biscuits every day.
Virginia’s education took place in a big room in her grandpa’s house until a school was built. One of her memories was of her little sisters walking to school. She felt sorry for them because it was so cold, and their clothing wasn’t very warm. One of Virginia’s older sisters liked to go to church and always took her along. At the age of ten, Virginia got the job of cleaning the church and made $10 a month.
After graduating high school as Valedictorian, she and a girlfriend decided to go to Minneapolis and get a job. They worked at Western Union for a while, but Virginia had always had a dream of going west and hoped to get there by joining the Air Force. She was sent to Fort Worth, Texas, where she met her future husband, Don Ferguson. They got married on April 17, 1952, and had their first son, Donald Lee on December 22, 1953, at Albuquerque, New Mexico. Don’s job was Chief Gunner of the B26, and Virginia was in the Communications Squadron. Don said his dream was to have a big ranch, so when they left the Air Force, they took off for South Dakota to take over his parents’ ranch at Hilland, South Dakota.
Wanting to have more children, Virginia and Don had three miscarriages before their second son, Gary Dean, came along. He was born on August 24, 1957, at Philip, South Dakota. Virginia was a good cook and was known for her biscuits and her sour cream raisin pies. Her hobbies were making quilts and rugs.
Virginia and Don worked hard on the ranch and did very well for themselves. They would attend business meetings in different areas of the country. Don and Virginia were awarded the Century Farm in 2003. Later they sold the ranch and built a house in Philip. They enjoyed traveling and took trips to Virginia’s hometown of Gamaliel, Kentucky, to Montana, Alaska, North Dakota, Washington, and California. They liked going to casinos and especially enjoyed flying to Laughlin, Nevada.
Her husband Don passed away in 2014. Virginia later moved into the Senechal Independent Living Apartments in Philip, and always had the coffeepot on. She then moved to Huron, South Dakota, where she has since resided.
Survivors include two sons Lee Ferguson of Billings, Montana, and Gary Ferguson and his wife Vicky of Huron; daughter-in-law Beverly Ferguson of Billings, Montana; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Virginia was preceded in death by her husband Don Ferguson on October 14, 2014, two stillborn sons Steve Allen and Jimmy Ray; her parents; brother Clarence; three sisters Emogene, Daris, and June; and daughter-in-law Carrie Ferguson.
Arrangements are with Rush Funeral Home of Philip.
