The family of Virgil Iver Swope, 84, of Redfield, SD, regrets to announce the passing of this beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandpa and farmer on Friday, May 27, 2011 at his home near Redfield.

His funeral will be 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at the United Methodist Church in Redfield. Reverend Stephen Perry will officiate.

Burial will be in Greenlawn Cemetery with military rites.

Visitation will be Monday from 4-8:00 p.m. with a prayer service at 7:00 p.m. at Thelen funeral Home.
www.thelenfuneralhome.com

Virgil was born June 25, 1926 in Redfield to Ralph and Bertha (Bice) Swope. He grew up on the family farm southwest of Redfield where horses became his life. In January 1945, he left the homestead for the United States Navy. He was stationed overseas spending time on the Asian front, for the most part Taiwan, on the USS Thuban. While he served our country as radar man third class, he corresponded with Gladys Bertha Oechsle for over a year. When he returned from his service, he met his pen-pal face to face. Virgil and Gladys were united in marriage on May 29, 1948.

After living on farms outside of Redfield for four years, in Seneca for five years and one year in Hitchcock, the Swopes finally returned to the family farm in 1958 and have resided there ever since. His life was always filled with horses, raising cattle and two children and farming the land with his bride. In his free time he served on township and Farmers' Union boards and enjoyed trail rides, fish fries, the Western Two Step, playing cards and going to rodeos.

He was a member of Redfield VFW Post 2755 and the Redfield American Legion Post 92, Golden Days Senior Center, Pioneer Community Club and the Redfield United Methodist Church.

Grateful to have shared Virgil's life are his wife Gladys; son David Swope of Cottonwood, MN; daughter Rosetta (Dan) Dickerson of Earlysville, VA; grandson Kenny (Lena) Dickerson of Charlottesville, VA; granddaughters Billi (Marc) Zielinski, of St. Paul, MN, Sara Larsen & fiancAC.' Joseph Von Kennel of Austin TX and Kristen Swope and fiancAC.' Derek Louwagie of Aberdeen, SD; great grandson Aurek Zielinski; great granddaughter Ruby Zielinski; his sister Aileen Harp of Cherokee Village, AR; sisters-in-law: Margie Lips, and Mona (Jerome) Kleinsasser of Hitchcock, SD, Verna Rodman of Huron, SD, and Sharolyn (Don) Johnson of Cache, OK; brothers-in-law: Donnie Oechsle of Fairmont, MN, Dale (Margaret) Oechsle of Hitchcock, SD and Veryl (Kay) Eschen of Hillrose, CO; and several nieces and nephews and their families.

Virgil was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Thelma (Martin) Harms; his brother Armond (Joyce) Swope; his parents-in-law LeRoy and Hazel Oechsle; his sisters-in-law: Doris Eschen and LaVonne Pownell and brother-in-law Richard Oechsle.

The family wishes to extend our gratitude and thanks to Virgil's special caregiver Penny Ihnen; Dr. Owens and the staff at the Community Memorial Hospital and all the neighbors and friends who have assisted Virgil and Gladys in the last few years.