Virginia "Gini" Senner

Virginia Mae Albrecht was born on May 22, 1930 to John and Laura (Waltner) Albrecht in Marion, South Dakota. Anyone who had the privilege of knowing Virginia is richer because of her genuine kindness, compassion and hospitality. She led a life of service for those she loved; her family, her friends, her church, her community, her country, and above all, her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. She peacefully went home to heaven on Monday, January 24, 2022 at the age of 91 years. Virginia attended the Midway Country School and Wayside Country School through 8th grade. She continued at Marion High School, where she graduated in 1948. Gini furthered her education at Nettleton Business College in Sioux Falls, and was employed at Dakota Employment Agency, eventually as assistant manager. Despite growing up with humble means doing chores on their family farm during the Depression Era, Virginia acknowledged her rich Christian heritage and loving family, including special bonds with her extended family, that she treasured her whole life. Her parents knew how to make life special and meaningful in spite of a lack of resources, with picnics, family gatherings, and taking time to listen. This may be what fostered Virginia’s unending gratitude to God, that shone so brightly through all the circumstances she would face in her life. During her working days in Sioux Falls, she enjoyed bowling and roller skating with her girlfriends. They even took a few trips to Minneapolis to enjoy live theater downtown. But Virginia’s life changed when she met her life mate, Charles Senner, who had come to Marion for medical care. He went to church and was invited to dinner by Virginia’s mother. A year later, Chuck and Gini were united in marriage at the Salem-Zion Mennonite Church in Freeman, South Dakota on June 12, 1953. They returned to Bloomfield, Montana to begin their farm life together. Virginia and Chuck were blessed with four children, and shared their love for their family, God, beauty in landscapes, music, and serving in various ways with their church families at Bethlehem Mennonite Church in Bloomfield, and Community Bible Church in Glendive. Date night was dressing up and going to town for community concerts. They celebrated 64 years together, with their last years residing at Highgate Senior Living in Billings. Gini grew up with a love of reading, singing and music, which spilled over to her children. She was their first piano teacher and also taught her girls to sing in harmony, including a few hymns in German. She loved preserving her German heritage with German recipes, and German phrases spoken between loved ones. Gini was a skilled seamstress and sewed most of her daughter’s clothing, as well as doll clothes, blankets, costumes, and mission projects, like health kits for overseas missions. She enjoyed knitting, crocheting, and ceramics as creative outlets. Gini was the quintessential farm wife, growing a productive garden and fruit trees, keeping the yard up, baking fresh bread, keeping the shelves stocked with canned goods, and cooking a delicious “3 squares” every day for family, for helping hands, and any visitors who happened to be at the table, especially Sunday dinner after church. She was the kind of friend that anyone would love to have, and she would look forward to getting together with the “lunch bunch.” Gini’s service to others was more than a resume of serving with the school board, on a mission’s committee, singing in the choir, or being a very regular blood donor. It was her genuine caring for each individual she was blessed to cross paths with. Opening her home for a neighborhood Bible study, routinely showing hospitality to family or friends passing through, treating her neighbors at Grandview or Highgate with kindness, sincerely praying for others’ concerns, or praying through a photo album of her loved ones – this is the genuine caring Gini showed. She saw the best in everyone, and nurtured godly character in her family, leading by example. She grew old gracefully through the decades, and had the praise of her Savior on her lips. She was a gift who will be dearly missed! She was preceded in death by her husband, Chuck; son, Wes; her parents; her brothers Glen and Jerry; and sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Don and Mabel Emery. She is survived by her three daughters; Brenda (Vic) Mullet of Laurel, MT; Sandy (Darby) Carlson of Garfield, MN; Tanya (Galen) Collins of Waxhaw, NC; daughter-in-law Gladene Senner of Great Falls, MT; 13 grandchildren; Holly, Lindy, Brooke, Joyce, Brent, Vanessa, Vernice, Shaylee, Dane, Bryton, Taylor, Greyson and Cayden; (18) great-grandchildren; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Joann and Walt Senner; sister-in-law Sherilyn Senner Danielson; nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, February 12th at Community Bible Church, 615 East Clement in Glendive. A family graveside service will take place prior to the memorial service. A visitation will take place on Friday, February 11th, from 4:00-6:00 p.m. at Silha Funeral Home, 221 N Meade Ave. in Glendive. The family suggests any donations be given to The Gideons International, Eastern Montana Bible Camp, or the Foundation Advancing Creation Truth (Glendive Dinosaur and Fossil Museum). Virginia’s family would like to give a special thank you to the compassionate caregivers at Highgate Senior Living, to Compassus of Billings, to the kind people of Community Bible Church for hosting, and to friends and family for their love and support. Thank you to the people serving at Silha Funeral Home in Glendive.

Virginia "Gini" Senner

May 22, 1930 - January 24, 2022

What We Do

Flowers & Gifts

Plan Ahead

About Us

Resources

Obituaries

Grief & Healing

Contact Information

Virginia "Gini" Senner

May 22, 1930 - January 24, 2022

What We Do

Flowers & Gifts

Plan Ahead

About Us

Resources

Obituaries

Grief & Healing

Contact Information

365 Days of Grief Support