Virginia Phoebe 'Ginnie' Collins, 84
Virginia Phoebe “Ginnie” Collins was born on Jan. 5, 1926, in Denton, Mont., to Charles DeVerdie and Mary Ellen (Parks) Collins. She “entered heaven” in the afternoon of Dec. 10, 2010. Her youngest daughter, Connie, and her niece, Patti Collins, were at her bedside.
Since her mother died when she was age 3, her father and her brothers raised Ginnie. She graduated as salutatorian of Denton High School at age 16, attended Heiman's Business College in Sheridan, Wyo., and worked as a stenographer for the Peter Kiewit Construction Company prior to her marriage to William G. “Bud” Collins in July of 1944.
Ginnie worked the ranches in Wyoming and Montana right beside Bud. In Wyoming she was the president of the Federation of Women Club, and of the Catholic Altar and Rosary Society. She later worked for the Montana State Forest Service in Missoula as an administrative secretary.
Ginnie was a painter, a pilot, a licensed real estate salesman and a seamstress. All who knew her, because of her soft, gentle and giving spirit, loved her. She had a very strong, quiet faith that gave strength to those around her.
She was a Daughter of the American Revolution through Colonel Andrew Hampton and leaves that legacy to her children and grandchildren.
She marveled all who knew her with the courage and grace she exhibited while dealing with Parkinson's disease for over 30 years.
She is survived by four daughters, Kathy Ann and Rick Hermes of Kalispell, Glenna Lou and Don Nelson of Free Soil, Mich., Tamara Rose and Paul Neils of Casper, Wyo., and Connie Marie and Dan Davis of Phoenix; and two sons, Thomas John and Terry Collins of Plains, and William Joseph Collins of Kalispell. Additional generations of 21 grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews also survive her.
Ginnie was preceded in death by her parents, brothers, Mura, Spud and George Collins; husband, William G. “Bud” Collins; and an infant daughter, Virginia.
Donations in Virginia's honor maybe directed to Glencroft Care Center, Hospice of Inspiris, or to the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center, all in Phoenix.
The Collins children plan to honor both parents with services and interment of ashes at Willow Grove Cemetery at Buffalo, Wyo., this summer.