VIRGINIA ADAMS obituary

INVERNESS - Virginia Leona (Richter) Adams, 68, died peacefully Wednesday, Oct. 27, 2004.

A funeral Mass will be 11 a.m. Monday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Inverness. Burial will follow at the Inverness Cemetery.

Virginia was born on Oct. 18, 1936, at Havre to George and Margaret (Schwan) Richter. Virginia, the youngest of 15 children, grew up in the Inverness community. She received her education at Inverness and Joplin and graduated from Inverness High School in 1954.

She married Charles W. Adams on June 3, 1955, at Hingham. They made their home at Inverness throughout their married life, where Virginia worked as a homemaker and mother of four. In the early years, she assisted Charles with the custodial details at the Inverness School and worked part time as a waitress at the Inverness Steakhouse. In the mid-1970s, Virginia began working as a postal clerk at Inverness for Iris White, then later transferred to the Chester post office, where she worked for Helen Aaberg. After 22 years of public service, she retired from her postal job in 1998. She continued to stay active in the community, where she cooked occasionally at the Inverness Bar & Supper Club.

During this past year, Virginia's general vitality began to decline, presumably due to the normal aging process. In addition she suffered a serious emotional blow when her eldest child, "Little Charlie," was diagnosed with terminal cancer early this spring. During her son's last illness and death on June 27, it was apparent that Virginia's physical health had failed, too. A subsequent check-up in July confirmed that she also had cancer. She received appropriate treatments, but never responded well. This past week she developed complications and was admitted to a Great Falls hospital and then transferred to the Peace Hospice facility.

Virginia was baptized and confirmed at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Inverness and remained a lifetime member.

She enjoyed many hobbies associated with her home, like sewing, quilting, cooking and baking. In her younger years, she enjoyed weekend camping expeditions with her family. She loved all children, so the neighborhood kids and other "strays" were always welcome in her home.

Virginia was an avid fan of the Dallas Cowboys and also enjoyed watching figure-skating events on television. During her social time away from home, she loved to play darts, the poker machines, and cards. She collected chicken memorabilia and stained-glass angels.

Virginia was preceded in death by her son, Charlie; infant son, Kip; parents; brothers, George, Joseph, Jake, Edwin, Raymond and John; sisters, Lena, Mary and Agnes; and infant siblings.

Survivors include her husband of 49 years, Charles Adams of Inverness; daughter, Shelly VanWechel of Joplin; sons, Michael Adams of Sand Coulee and Todd Adams of Helena; six grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; sister, Francy Fraser of Joplin; brothers, Chris Richter of Ferndale and Frank Richter of Joplin; and many nieces and nephews.

Arrangements by Rockman Funeral Chapel, Chester.