Virginia Maxine Friedrich Thomas, 98, of Albert Lea, Minnesota, passed away at St. John’s Lutheran Community in Albert Lea, Minnesota, on March 7, 2016.

Virginia was born on Dec. 22, 1917, in Dickens, Iowa, to Harriet Ann (Mayes) and Harry Ernest Rideout. She graduated from Austin High School in 1937. She was united in marriage to Gustaf August William Friedrich in Canton, South Dakota, on Oct. 15, 1938. They had three children, Rodney William, Roger Anthony and Rachelle LaZette. This marriage was dissolved in 1965. She married Leonard Wieczorek in 1971 and they divorced in 1980. On June 22, 1984, she married Donald Eugene Thomas in Albert Lea, Minnesota. Don passed away on March, 31, 1985, but not before he and Virginia created many happy memories together camping in Lanesboro, Minnesota.

During her working career she was employed in various positions including many years at Hormel, in Austin, Minnesota, and at the Freeborn County Register of Deeds as a deputy clerk. She retired from Freeborn County on June 29, 1984.

She was a member of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, in Albert Lea, Minnesota. She was a proud member of the Auxiliary of the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Fraternal Order of the Eagles, Airie No. 703, Audubon Society, Genealogy Society, Albert Lea Garden Club and State Line Polka Lovers. She was a Gray Lady volunteer at St. Olaf Hospital and also at the Red Cross Mobile Blood Bank both in Austin, Minnesota.

Throughout her life she enjoyed many hobbies including polka dancing, genealogy, camping, fishing, wedding photography, sharing stories about her life adventures, and spending time with her beloved pets. She was and avid reader and book collector. She was proud to have lived independently in her own home with her pets until the age of 91.

Virgina is survived by her daughter Rachelle LaZette (Darrell) Cafourek, Albert Lea, Minnesota, and their children, Shawn (David) Anderson, Cindy (Jarett) Schiebel, Heather (Aaron) Hamilton; son Rodney (Sandra) Friedrich of Austin, Minnesota, and their daughter Lisa (Steve) Johnson; and son Roger (Carol) Friedrich of Commerce City, Colorado, and their children Jill (Clayton) Daughtrey, Terry Friedrich. She is also survived by 15 great-grandchildren and one great-great-granddaughter.

She was preceded in death by her husband Donald E. Thomas; brother Harlen E. Rideout and his wife Dorthy; brother Robert Franklin Rideout; infant sisters, Dorthea Maxyne and Pauline Maxyne; and grandson, Troy Friedrich.

Services will be held at Bonnerup Funeral Home in Albert, Lea, Minnesota, on Friday, March 11, 2016, at 11 a.m. Friends my visit one hour before the service. Pastor Aaron Hamilton and Pastor James Kassera will officiate. Interment will be at Hillcrest Cemetery, Albert Lea, Minnesota.

May she rest in peace with the Lord.