Virginia Mae “Ginny” Pace, 76, of Orrick, MO, passed away Wednesday afternoon, January 10, 2018 at her home in Orrick, surrounded by her family.

Viriginia was born on June 9, 1941 in Maddock, North Dakota, to Virgil Simenson and Margaret Marie (College) Simenson, also known as “Peggy Posey”.

Virginia graduated from high school in Carrington, N.D., and served her country in the U.S. Air Force. She studied at St. Mary’s University in Minneappolis, MN, where she earned a degree in Chemical Dependency Counseling in 1987. She worked many years as a chemical dependency counselor in the health care field. She was united in marriage on June 27, 1972 to Roberts Hall Pace, Sr. He preceded her in death on January 28, 2001. Virginia had lived in Carrington, N.D. and Sioux Falls, S.D. before moving to Windom, MN in the summer of 1972. In 1984, she moved to Apple Valley, MN and lived there until she moved to Orrick, MO in 1992.

Virginia loved doing crafts and doing craft shows. She and Laura traveled many weekends to work craft shows, and loved this time spent together. She also loved spending time with her grandchildren and she enjoyed cooking and baking, especially cakes for her daughter to decorate. One of her favorite things was to go to the casinos and play the penny slot machines. She was a loving and devoted mother, grandmother and friend. Virginia helped alot of people that were in need of help. She had a huge heart and was a natural and true caregiver that was always ready to help others with cleaning, cooking, helping do their taxes, or just giving a helping hand any way she could, always putting others needs first before her own.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Roberts Hall Pace, Sr., her sisters, Kathy Griffin and Linda Lusby, one stepson, Roberts H. Pace, Jr., and a step grandson, Matthew Kalash.

Virginia is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Laura “Pace” McGregor and husband, Duncan McGregor of Orrick, MO; a son, David Pace and fiance’, Brigitte Smisek of Bloomington, MN; step daughters, Susan “Pace” Benson of Rochester, MN, Kathleen “Pace” Hodges and husband, Dr. LeRoy Hodges of Welcome, MN, and Jennifer “Pace” Samples and husband, Jerry Samples of Marietta, GA; a sister, Karen Hill and husband, Eddie Hill of Parkville, MO; and a brother, Michael Simenson of Mexico; grandchilddren, Duncan “Trey” McGregor III, Nathan McGregor and Amanda McGregor all of Orrick, MO; many step grandchildren and step great grandchildren as well as many nieces, nephews and great nieces and great nephews. She was expecting her first great grandchild in the late summer.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in Virginia’s honor are suggested to be given to Henkel For Hope Team for the Relay for Life Cancer Walk in care of Trey McGregor or Laura McGregor.

It was Virginia’s request that she be cremated with a celebration of life to be announced at a later date.