Virgil Lampe

Funeral Service for Virgil Lampe, age 87, of Wheaton, Minnesota will be held Wednesday, April 10, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. at St. John Lutheran Church in Wheaton, Minnesota with Rev. Michael Breach officiating. Organist will be Sara Lee Rinke. Pallbearers will be Mason Lampe, Brayden Lampe, Skyler Smith, Blake Smith, Leland Sperr, Art Giroux and Ronald Piepkorn. Honorary Pallbearers will be Ronnie Hervey, Roy Hormann, Milton Schmidt, Gordon Jacobs and Eldren Lichtsinn. Interment will be in St. John Lutheran Cemetery, rural Wheaton at a later date. Military Rites will be provided by the Merton Dale American Legion Post #80. Visitation will be held Tuesday evening, April 9th from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. with a 7:00 p.m. Prayer Service at the Ranney-Bainbridge Funeral Home in Wheaton. Visitation will continue Wednesday morning one hour prior to service time at the church. Virgil Clifford Lampe was born on November 3, 1925 in Wheaton, Minnesota to August and Mabel (Hartwig) Lampe. Virgil attended country school south of Wheaton and furthered his education at Morris Ag School where he completed a three year program. Virgil served in the United States Army from October 19, 1950 until his honorable discharge on December 11, 1951. For his service he received the Korean Service Medal with two bronze stars. Virgil returned to Wheaton and was united in marriage to Betty Ertsgaard on June 7, 1958 at Mission Covenant Church in Wheaton. The couple lived in Fargo, North Dakota for a short time where Virgil worked at Corwin Churchill. The couple moved to Wheaton to farm and Virgil started doing auto body work in the winter. After his retirement from farming, Virgil worked as custodian at St. John Lutheran Church in Wheaton. Upon complete retirement he sold the farmsite and moved into the city of Wheaton. Virgil was a member of the Wheaton American Legion and VFW. He enjoyed going dancing and playing cards with family and friends. Virgil's main goal was being the first spectator to arrive at his children's and grandchildren's sporting events and activities (Always had the best seat in the house). During quiet time he enjoyed assembling jigsaw puzzles and listening to Polka Party. His favorite TV program was The Price is Right. He also enjoyed cruising the countryside and watching the crops develop throughout the year. Virgil passed away on April 6, 2013 at the Rosholt Care Center in Rosholt, South Dakota. Virgil is survived by his wife Betty Lampe of Wheaton, Minnesota; son Dean (Sunnee) Lampe of Wheaton; daughter Mary Lampe of Savage, Minnesota; and four grandchildren: Mason Lampe, Brayden Lampe, Skyler Smith and Blake Smith. Virgil was preceded in death by his parents and stepmother Alma Crooks.