Virginia Gross

Our hearts are heavy as we announce the passing of Virginia (“Ginny”) Gross, 92, a resident of Hillman, MN, on March 12, 2025 at home with her loving family at her side. A Memorial Mass will be held on Wednesday, March 26 at 11:00 am at Holy Family Church, Bull Dog Lake, with Father Elias Gieske officiating. Visitation will be held prior to Mass from 9:00 am to 11:00 am. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life: 4249 Nicollet Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55409 or Holy Trinity Catholic School: 80 Edward St S, Pierz MN 56364

Virginia Margaret Schlegel was born on December 1, 1932, in Staples, MN to the late Albert and Dorothy (Tretter) Schlegel. She grew up and attended school in Staples, graduating high school with the class of 1950, after which she completed her teachers training.

Almost exactly one year after graduating high school, she was united in marriage to Bernard (“Ben”) Gross on June 9, 1951, in Staples, MN. And they’ve been inseparable every since. They were true soulmates: working together, dancing together, praying the rosary together and holding each other’s hands through it all. Theirs was a bond made beyond this earth.

Together, Ben and Ginny made their home on a dairy farm in rural Hillman for over 73 years. Early on, Ginny spent time working a few jobs off the farm. But her life’s work is that of a fabulous homemaker, mother, wife, gardener, farmer, and calf whisperer, spending several hours a day helping with chores on the farm. If she wasn’t in the field picking rocks, she was making meals for those who were, bringing us cake and slipping in secret letters to Ben that no one was allowed to read.

Her pride and joy were her 13 children, but her garden might have been a close second. She was a wonderful cook, and we can all still taste her amazing home cooked meals and baked goods, (especially her carmel rolls, cookies, and homemade bread which she kept in-stock in the freezer). She lived a life of loving service to her family, and even in the end (and all through the lives of her 13 children) she said, “I want everyone to just get along!” We’re trying mom…we’re trying!

She was an avid card-player, book-reader, seamstress, whip-smart crossword puzzler, master gardener, and produced beautiful works of art with her embroidery, given out freely for any occasion. She loved to dance, sing, and pray. But it was her love of children that will be her most memorable legacy. She so loved the children. Even during her last days with us, seeing the faces of her great-children brought an immediate twinkle to her eye and smile to her face. She said she was excited to meet the babies she miscarried all those years ago.

Ginny and Ben are blessed with 13 children, 56 grandchildren and 62 great-grandchildren. She was very involved with Holy Family Catholic Church, teaching catechism for many years, lovingly using her long-ago-learned teaching skills on Saturday mornings, and was a member of St. Elizabeth Council. She was an avid supporter of the Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life (MCCL).

She is missed now and will be forever. Always in our hearts.

Left to cherish her memories are her husband, Bernard Gross of Hillman; children, Diane Seekamp of Blaine, Gail (Scott Graham) Porter of St. Augustine, FL, Mark (Jeannie Krantz) Gross of Flagstaff, AZ, Jane (Art) Stumpf of Lastrup, Mona (Craig) Valenty of Andover, Ted (Nadine Boser) Gross of Rutland, ND, Steven (Gwen Kahlhamer) Gross of Harding, Jerry Gross of Little Falls, Joel (Nicole Stephens) Gross of Hillman, Richard (Jodi Heidelberger) Gross of Columbia Heights, Lonny (Kate Lynch) Gross of Medina, and Tessa (Jason) Elstran of Pierz.; siblings, Christy (Grace) Schlegel of Minneapolis, Walter Schlegel of Brainerd, Lorraine (Adam) Virnig of Hillman, Ray (Diane) Schlegel of Chisago and Kathy (Chuck) Jones of Arizona, and many loved relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Albert and Dorothy Schlegel; son, Glen Gross, grandson, Michael Dehnel; granddaughter, Jenna Gross; sisters, Mary Ann Virnig and Patricia (Patsy) Miers, brothers, Kenny Schlegel and Robert Schlegel, son-in-law’s, Craig Valenty and Dan Seekamp; brothers-in-law, Andrew Virnig and Lyle Bednarek; and sister-in-law, Irene Schlegel.

Emblom Brenny Funeral Service is Cherishing the Memory and Celebrating the Life of Virginia.