Virginia Alice Freeman, 87, of Sturgis, SD, passed away on December 7, 2022, at home, with family, from Alzheimer's.

Virginia was born February 16, 1935, on Flintrock Creek in Ziebach County, near Redelm, SD, to Alice (Boers) Cahill and Joseph Cahill. She was the last of 3 children and the only girl. In 1943, the family moved to Rapid City, SD, and in 1946, they moved to Sturgis, when Virginia was in 5 ^th grade.

Virginia met Frank Freeman in 1952 while Frank was in the Air Force stationed at Ellsworth Air Force Base. They dated from then on. Frank was transferred to Austin, Texas, but returned to Sturgis while on leave in May of 1953 and they were married May 10th. It was a Sunday and Mother's Day. Frank had to return to Texas where Virginia was going to join him, but he was discharged before that happened. After that they made their home in Sturgis in the house that remains in the family to this day. Together they had 3 sons: Mark, Alan, and Chris.

In addition to being a homemaker for many years, in 1978, Virginia, Frank, and a partner bought the Oasis Bar in Sturgis. Virginia also started and owned Courtesy Taxi during the 1980's, selling the service in 1988. Several years later, they bought out their partner and continued to run the Oasis until they sold it in 1995 and retired.

Virginia enjoyed gardening, fishing, and hunting for wild mushrooms and asparagus. Over the years she and Frank had many beloved "critters" that shared their home. She was a wonderful amateur carpenter and loved to help her children with their home projects as well. She enjoyed painting, writing poetry, and drawing. She left behind a legacy of journals, memories of her years growing up, many poems and beautiful drawings and paintings that her family will cherish always. She cared for her ailing parents, aunt and uncle and sister-in-law in the last years of their lives, and she was devoted to her children and grandchildren.

Virginia is survived by her children: Alan (Joyce) Freeman, Sturgis, SD, and Chris (Kelli) Freeman, Sturgis, SD; as well as grandchildren, Crescenza Traversie, Sturgis, SD, Rosetta Freeman, Sturgis, SD, Sarah Freeman, Sturgis, SD, and Laura Freeman, Sturgis, SD; great-grandchildren, Khamelya Traversie, and Felicity Ferwerda and great-great-grandchild, Ezra.

Virginia is preceded in death by her husband, Frank Freeman, son, Mark Freeman, brothers, Gene, and Keith Cahill, parents, Alice and Joe Cahill, aunt and uncle, Doris and Louis Boers, and sister-in-law, Margaret (Beth) McQuarry.

She will join her beloved Frank at Black Hills National Cemetery on Friday, December 16 ^th , 2022, at 10:00 a.m.