Virginia R. Burress-Henderson

A Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, September 27, 2019 at 2:00 PM at the Warroad Senior Living Center Chapel in Warroad, MN.  

Virginia Burress-Henderson was born August 23, 1932 in Roseau County, Minnesota, to Simon "Sam" Meyer and Florence Meyer (née Anderson).  Virginia was the seventh of twelve children.  She attended Roseau County Public Schools and completed her high school education at Bethany Missionary College in Bloomington, Minnesota.  While attending Bethany Missionary College, as a choir member, Virginia sang in an event held for evangelist Billy Graham.  Virginia then attended the Swedish Hospital School of Nursing, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and completed training as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA).

Virginia returned to Warroad, Minnesota, and while working as a CNA met her first husband, Earl W. Burress, Sr.  The couple were married in 1956 and their daughter Laurel was born in 1959.  Virginia was part owner of a service station (with an attached restaurant) and operated the Lake of the Woods Tourist information office.  In 1968, Virginia provided bedside care to family friend John "Everlasting Sky" KaKayGeesick until his death.  During this period, she frequently hunted, fished, and traveled with her family.

Shortly after the loss of her first husband in 1972, she welcomed her second child, Earl W. Burress, Jr.  Virginia then began working as the manager and an instructor for Wayward Wind Sailing Charters.  She, with her second husband Hank Henderson, founded ESCAPE (Exciting Scenic Canadian/American Power Boat Excursion), LOWISA (Lake of the Woods International Sailing Association), and the Canadian/American Dominion Day Regatta.

As a youth, Virginia attended Pine Grove Lutheran Church and later became a member of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church.  Virginia loved her community and country and was a member of the Warroad Chamber of Commerce, co-founder of the Desert Storm Family Support Group, and supporter of the Boy Scouts of America.  Virginia was fascinated by the lore of Lake of the Woods and spent summers on the lake, blueberry picking, gardening, rock collecting, and watching wildlife from her home along the Warroad River.

Virginia was a resident of the Warroad Senior Living Center for the last four and a half years of her life.  As a member of the Senior Living Center Community, she played pranks on staff and friends and loyally supported her husband Hank until his death in 2017.

Virginia is survived by blended family of four daughters: Laurel DeMolee (Dan) of Warroad, Minnesota, Lisa White (Mike Ronald) of Louisville, Kentucky, Dana Buffum of Salol, Minnesota, and Tanya “Nat” Henderson of Salol, Minnesota, her son Earl W. Burress Jr. (Kelsey) of Las Vegas, Nevada, and grandchildren: Josh White (Jordan) and Ruth Driscoll-Lovejoy (George) (née White); Jaqueline, William, Austin and Layla DeMolee; Louis III and Wayne Krueger; Fred Blinsmon Jr; Michael, Victor, and Max Krueger; Kelvin Manley, and six great-grandchildren.  Also survived by her brother Leonard Meyer of Berwyn, Illinois, and her sister Ida Holcumb of Aurora, Minnesota, as well as numerous nephews and nieces.  She was preceded in death by husband Arno "Hank" Henderson, husband Earl W. Burress, Sr., and nine siblings.

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