Virgil M. Bayne

COLERIDGE — Virgil M. Bayne, 95, Coleridge, died April 27, 2021, at the Embers Assisted Living, Coleridge.

Funeral Services were May 1 at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Coleridge, with the Rev. Russ Lambert officiating.

Burial was at Lawn Ridge Cemetery, Coleridge, with military rites by the Coleridge American Legion Post #114.

Visitation was Friday, at church.

Arrangements were under the direction of the Wintz Funeral Home, Coleridge.

Honorary pallbearers were Russell Ropte, Ron Ropte, Rod Anderson, Douglas Bayne, Terry Bayne, Terry Rhode, Dale Engelman and Jeff Wolfe.

Pallbearers were Dillon Wamberg, Dawson Wamberg, Alexa Wamberg, Chase Osborne, Brooklyn Osborne, Kaylee Osborne, Brady Johnson, Caleb Johnson and Chloe Johnson.

Virgil Marion was born on a farm west of Coleridge Feb. 28, 1926, to Marion J. and Emma (Rath) Bayne. He was baptized and confirmed into the Immanuel Lutheran faith as a child. Virgil attended the Pearl Creek School and graduated from Coleridge High School in 1944. He entered the U.S. Army and served from 1945-1947. After being honorably discharged, he moved home and married Velda Grace Dooley Dec. 14, 1947, in Coleridge. They had five children, Virgil Jr., Randall, Marilyn, Sheryl and Sharon.

Virgil and Velda farmed several farm places in the Coleridge area before settling into town Jan. 1, 1975. Virgil worked for the Coleridge Elevator for 25 years and for the Coleridge Dehy Plant for nine years. In between jobs, he still dedicated himself to helping Gene and Jon Milander with spring field work and fall harvest for 24 years. For 14 years, he loved working for the Coleridge Community Schools as a bus driver. He enjoyed taking the kids to their school activities. Virgil had a love of the land in his heart all his life, even after his own farm sale. He continued to help farmers in the area for many years until the age of 90.

One of Virgil’s proudest moments was working on the Coleridge Veterans Memorial Wall. He spent countless hours selling bricks and collecting donations, which totaled over half of the cost of the wall.

Virgil is survived by his daughter, Marilyn (Kenneth) Jacob, Bloomfield, and their three daughters, Julie (Robert) Osborne, Norfolk; Angela (Daniel) Wamberg, Wausa; Alisa Johnson, Indianapolis, Ind.; nine great-grandchildren, Chase (Shanae), Brooklyn and Kaylee Osborne, all of Norfolk; Dillon, Dawson and Alexa Wamberg, all of Wausa; Brady (fiance, Madison), Caleb and Chloe Johnson, all of Indianapolis, Ind.; brother, Lowell Bayne, Norfolk; sister-in-law, Dorothy (Bill) Hintz, Waseca, Minn.; brothers-in-law, Dale (Judy) Dooley, Yankton, S.D., and Larry (Bonnie) Dooley, Yankton, S.D.; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Marion and Emma Bayne; wife, Velda, Sept. 4, 2010, at age 82; children, Virgil Jr. and Randall, and infant daughters, Sheryl and Sharon; sisters, Vivian (Donald) Ropte, Dorothy (Donald) Anderson; sister-in-law, Beverly Bayne; parents-in-law, Ted (Jessie) Dooley.