Goodridge – Virginia Vivian Cullen, 73, of rural Goodridge,  passed away on the morning of January 15, 2022, after a long hard battle with cancer. She was surrounded by her loving family at home under hospice care.
Virginia Vivian Critser, daughter of Billy and Verena (Gassner) Critser, was born on August 10, 1948 in Oxford, Nebraska. She was named after the first white woman born in America. She was raised and educated in Beaver City, NE, graduating in 1966. Following high school, she attended Chadron State Teachers College, then transferred to Bemidji State Teachers College in Bemidji, mid semester of her sophomore year, graduating with a BS degree in English and a minor in speech and drama. She also had special certifications in business ed and administration.
In the fall of 1970 she met the love of her life, Douglas Cullen, at Paul Kiesow’s barn dance. On March 6, 1971 she was united in marriage to Douglas Cullen at St. Bernard’s Catholic Church in Thief River Falls. To this union 6 children were born: Shelley, Anthony, Paul, Charlotte, Andrea, and Tamara. The couple made their home on the Cullen Family farm where they have continued to live and raise their family.
Over the years Virginia had many jobs. She was a substitute teacher for area schools, an assessor for Espelie, Goodridge and Moylan Townships, and a night auditor for the Best Western. She also worked as a receptionist, and in packaging at Digi-Key. Later she moved to Arctic Cat where she worked in the sewing department. Virginia was also a secretary to the fundraiser of St. Bernard’s, a secretary at Pennington County Social Services, President and Secretary at St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Goodridge and also a cashier at McDonald’s.
Virginia was an active member at St. Ann’s Catholic Church and St. Bernard’s Catholic Church where she was lector, minister of communion, song leader, decorator, religious education coordinator and teacher, parish council member, and she also helped with the Guild and served on the Mount St. Benedict Advisory Committee. She was also involved in TEC, Cursillo and was devoted to bringing others closer to Christ through Koinonia and her clown ministry. Virginia also was involved in the Red Hat Society as a queen.
In her spare time Virginia loved to sit outside under the summer shade and take in the nature around her, most of all butterflies, hummingbirds, and flowers, especially gladiolus. She was an avid seamstress. She enjoyed reading, singing, cooking, and decorating cakes. She had many collections of candles and holders, cookie jars, carolers, roosters, and clowns. If you ever saw her closet, you would know she loved to “shop ’til you drop.” Virginia also loved to farm, especially combining.
Her special interests were her children and seventeen “grand” grandchildren. She loved traveling, especially to Switzerland to see her grandparents and extended family. She was proud of the fact that her grandfather was in the Swiss Guard and guarded the Pope.
Above all she loved Jesus!
Virginia is survived by her loving husband of 50 years, Douglas of Goodridge; children, Shelley (Paul) Giauque of Cape Coral, FL, Anthony (Dottie) Cullen of Horace, ND, Paul (Melissa) Cullen of Helena, MT, Charlotte (Dale) Otremba of Fargo, ND, Andrea (Kevin) Holmgren of Fargo, ND and Tamara Salentiny of Thief River Falls; grandchildren, Riley (Anna) Giauque, Hailey Giauque, Kieth Cullen, Thomas Cullen, Allyn Cullen, Mattie Cullen, Will Cullen, Tate Cullen, Hannah Otremba, Alaynah Otremba, Logan Otremba, Dominiq Holmgren, Lilly Holmgren, Annie Jane Cullen, Brooklyn Salentiny, Connor Salentiny and Peter Salentiny; sister, Heidi Critser of Sturgis, SD; uncle, Justin (Ilaline) Critser; sisters and brothers-in-law, John (Louise) Cullen, Agnes Kuznia, Joe Cullen, and Margaret Syverson; along with several cousins, nieces and nephews.
She is preceded in death by her parents; aunt, Caro Lee Bogle (Lloyd); sisters and brothers-in-law, Robert Cullen, Loretta (Edward) Stucy, Tommy (Marilyn) Cullen, Jan Cullen, Warren Syverson, Ray Kuznia; niece, Jenny Cullen; and nephew, Greg Syverson.
Mass of Christian burial will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, January 19, 2022 at St. Bernard’s Catholic Church in Thief River Falls, with Father Rick Lambert officiating. Burial will be held at Poplar Grove Cemetery, rural Goodridge.
Visitation was held on Tuesday, January 18, 2022, from 5-7 p.m. with a 7 p.m. prayer service at St. Bernard’s Catholic Church in Thief River Falls. Visitation will also take place one hour prior to the service on Wednesday.
Condolences may be sent at www.johnsonfuneralservice.com.        A00003B2022JA19