Virginia Karen (Rafshol) Morgenthaler

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Morgenthaler, Virginia Karen (Rafshol) passed away peacefully on November 23, 2022. She was surrounded by her loving husband, Herb and her children, Kari, Krys, and Kiaja. Virginia was born on November 1, 1941, in Superior, Wisconsin. She graduated from Robbinsdale High School, '59 and Concordia College, Moorhead, '63. She taught third grade for six years in Columbia Heights and treasured every minute with her students. Virginia met Herb while at Concordia College. They were married for 58 years and shared a life of devotion to each other, caring for their children and had a fondness for all things Norwegian including lefse, krumkake and rosettes - not lutefisk! Virginia dedicated her life to being an amazing mother. She organized busy calendars, chauffeured kids to multiple events each day and cheered for her family. She attended all their events and witnessed their triumphs and trials. She often found her own role in their activities by joining the Sons of Norway Mother's Club or being on the Figure Skating Club of Bloomington board. She loved her children with a deep, abiding love and cherished being a grandmother to her seven grandchildren Lily, Bjorn, Marlin, Theo, Hans, Hollis, and Thor. Virginia was an avid stitcher and specialized in Norwegian Hardanger embroidery. She designed a baptismal gown for her grandchildren, altar cloths for her church, as well as many crosses and ornaments she gifted to friends. She sewed Norwegian Bunads for her kids to wear while dancing at Sons of Norway and many ornate skating costumes for competitions and shows. She was generous, kind and always ready to step forward to help those in need. She was a tireless and selfless volunteer. Virginia led a massive Meals on Wheels operation at her church for over 20 years, coordinating logistics, schedules, and back up plans in several notebooks before computers were available. She also used her needles to knit newborn baby caps for children in Africa. With the help of several knitting partners she recruited, the group made and donated over 1,000 caps! She had an adventurous side and traveled to Norway, Australia, Alaska, and Hawaii along with several domestic locations. A funny quirk, she collected souvenirs of small travel soaps, keeping dozens of them in the hall closet. When asked their purpose, she laughed and didn't know why she kept them, but it likely stemmed from her desire to never waste, live humbly, and always have a nice bar of soap on display for her treasured guests. She was a person with a great smile and a big heart. She had a huge community of friends and family who loved and supported her through the years, including her Round Robin - friends from college who stayed in touch through letter writing for 34 years, and her cousins who had monthly lunches together. She is survived by her loving husband, Herb; her children, Kari Knapp (Mark), Krys Morgenthaler (Valerie Coleman), and Kiaja Klabo (Tyker); and her sister Ruth Carol Udager (Tom). Services will be held Tuesday, December 20th at Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, 4801 France Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55410. Visitation will be at 10:00 AM in the church narthex. The service will be at 11:00 AM in the church sanctuary. The service will also be live streamed on the church website goodshepherdmpls.org/… and will be recorded. In lieu of flowers, gifts to the following charities that were important to Virginia are appreciated. Meals on Wheels, meals-on-wheels.com, Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, goodshepherdmpls.org, the Alzheimer's Association, alz.org/mnnd, and Plymouth Christian Youth Center, pcyc-mpls.org. GILLBROTHERS.com MINNEAPOLIS, MN 612-861-6088

Published on December 11, 2022