Click here to view Virginia's Memorial Folder

Virginia "Midge" Louise O'Connor, 90, of Redfield, passed away on March 2, 2016, at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, March 7, 2016 at St. Bernard Catholic Church with Reverend Gregory Frankman officiating. Burial will follow in St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery in Athol.


Visitation will be Sunday, March 6, 2016 from 3-5:00 p.m. with Midge's family present starting at 3:00 p.m. to accept condolences. There will be a scriptural prayer service with a time to share memories starting at 5:00 p.m. at Thelen-Hyke Funeral Home.

Arrangements are entrusted to Thelen-Hyke Funeral Home. www.thelen-hykefuneralhome.com

Virginia "Midge" Louise McLain was born the youngest of three children to Elmer and Elsie (Rose) McLain on October 21, 1925 in Conde, SD. She was raised on the family farm located south of Brentford, SD. After graduating from Brentford High School, she attended college in Mitchell, SD. She was employed at the Cenex Farmers Union and then Spink Electric as a bookkeeper.

She married Cletus O'Connor in 1952. They lived on a farm west of Athol where they had many good friends and neighbors. They enjoyed hosting pheasant hunters for many years. Before her husband's illness, they enjoyed traveling to different places in the fall. Eventually Midge moved to Redfield where she enjoyed living at the Peterson Bahde apartments until 2015. She then moved to Sioux Falls to the Good Samaritan Center. There she enjoyed every day with her niece Kathy McCollar and her many new friends.

Midge had a love for horses all her life. In her younger years, she was encouraged and taught by the late Father Quinn to trick-ride on her horse. Those who attended the numerous horse shows held in Redfield and the surrounding areas were entertained by Midge and her horse "Skip". Her performances, colorful costumes and twirling batons were truly a special attraction at the horse shows.

Midge loved to fish and has spent countless hours camping and fishing the Missouri River and Canada with her sister Irene and special friend Marlene Phister.

Midge had a warm, kind, generous, giving heart and a ready smile. She always made you feel welcome and loved. She was a true Christian who saw the good in all and was never judgmental. Her many nieces and nephews have fond and special memories they hold dear from their many visits and adventures with her. Fishing/camping trips, sledding down the big hills behind her house, her special collie dog, catching a snapping turtle in a bucket, playing cards, games and sharing her many life adventures over a glass of squirt. Visits with Midge were always special. She will be missed by all whose lives she touched.

Other things Midge enjoyed were crocheting and embroidering, reading books, writing in her diary, cards and letters, reading books, staying up late and did we mention reading books? She loved to read and spent countless hours with a good book and many nights she stayed up all night to get it finished.

Midge is survived by her sister-in-law Alicia Van Houten; several nieces and nephews, many great nieces and nephews and great-great nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, her brother Lloyd McLain and her sister Irene Miller.

Condolences may be sent to: Ron & Linda McLain 39637 163rd Street Turton, SD 57477

Sunday, March 06, 2016
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Thelen-Hyke Funeral Home
101 East 7th Ave
Redfield, South Dakota 57469

Sunday, March 06, 2016
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Thelen-Hyke Funeral Home
101 East 7th Avenue
Redfield, South Dakota 57469

Monday, March 07, 2016
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM

St. Bernard Catholic Church
213 6th Ave East
Redfield, SD 57469