Virginia Dale Rosenthal

Memorial services will be held on Thursday, August 11 at 2 PM at Peterson-Johnson Funeral Home in Milaca with Rev. Stephen Blenkush officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service on Thursday. Virginia Dale Rosenthal was born in Sacred Heart, MN on December 17, 1919 to Selma (Dale) and Berge Birk. She was the youngest of eight children. Her father was a watchmaker and owned a jewelry store in Sacred Heart, and when the family moved to Milaca, MN, he owned a small jewelry/watch repair store in Milaca. Virginia’s best friend in Milaca was Marilyn Ferguson. Upon graduation from Milaca High School, Virginia attended business college for two years, which led her to employment as a secretary at the Capitol Building in St. Paul, MN and in San Francisco, California. She also traveled to Tokyo, Japan to work at the U.S. Embassy. She met Maurice “Rosie” Rosenthal in Japan while horseback riding. She fell off the horse and in love with Rosie. They were married in Tokyo on February 10, 1951. Rosie was in the military, and during their marriage they traveled in the U.S. and to France and Germany. When Rosie retired from the military, they settled in Milaca, MN, where Rosie joined the Milaca Sheriff’s Department as a Deputy Sheriff. Virginia worked at the Courthouse in Milaca. They raised their daughters, Diane Dale and Sandra Jean, in Milaca. Her husband Rosie passed away in 1978. Virginia kept busy by flower gardening and by volunteering with the American Legion Auxiliary, eventually serving as President and remaining a lifetime member. She also learned to play bridge, becoming an avid player and joining local bridge clubs. Virginia was often ahead of her time and was not afraid of change. She always believed that overall, life was good and that the world would continue to improve. She was a giving person and a wonderful mother. Virginia passed away at Grace Pointe Crossing in Cambridge, MN on August 1, 2011 at the age of 91. She is survived by her daughters, Diane (Deuane) Mattson of Cambridge and Sandra Jean (Larry) Sundsvold of International Falls; grandchildren, Adam Johnson, Adrian Johnson and Heather Sundsvold; great-grandchildren, Jordan, Kelsie, Cayden, Rylee, Tage and Tarin; other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by husband, Rosie; parents and five brothers and two sisters.