Virginia Margaret Smith Lane, 94, passed away Nov. 28, 2012, in Austin, Minn.

Virginia was born Aug. 1, 1918, on a ranch outside Chouteau, Okla., to Ernest Levi and Mary Elizabeth Shannon Smith. She was the youngest of five children. She attended Park College at Parkville, Mo., where she earned a degree in biology and met her husband, Stuart ‘Tate’ Homer Lane. They were married Feb. 22, 1940, at Jackson Heights, Long Island, N.Y. They lived on the east coast for about three years. When World War II approached, they moved to her husband’s hometown of Austin, where she would stay with her baby, Karin Parker, born March 30, 1943, and her mother during the time her husband was in the armed forces in Europe, about 2 1/2 years. During that time, she worked as a receptionist at the Fox Hotel.

After the war, she moved to Minneapolis with her family (1946-1951) and then to Richfield (1951-54). In 1954, they returned to Austin where she lived the rest of her life. She had two more children: Nancy Bliss, born April 3, 1947, and Kathy Stuart, born April 21, 1948.

Virginia gave much time and service to her community. She ran the Sunday school at First United Methodist Church for many years. She also worked as a “Grey Lady” at St Olaf Hospital. She was a member of Collectors Club and chapter CU PEO where she served as president.

With three friends, she started a small business called Devine Design. They designed and sold needlepoint kits to stores throughout Minnesota.

From 1949 on she spent part of each summer at Ten Mile Lake, Hackensack, Minn. In 1977, she and her husband bought with friends the land that had belonged to Camp Hillaway. From that time on they spent all of every summer at their cabin where their family gathered for many wonderful times.

She was preceded in death by her daughter, Kathy “Katherine” Martin whose husband was Franc Sloan.

Virginia is survived by her husband, Stuart “Tate” Lane of Austin; daughters, Karin (Ahmet) Arsan of Ten Mile Lake/Prior Lake and Nancy Mackenzie of St Paul; grandchildren, Stuart Kemal Arsan (Jessie, Jialiang Yang) of New York City, Katherine (Pete) Nohre of Minneapolis, Dr. Jeanne (Neil) Goodspeed of St Paul, Elizabeth Leyla Arsan of Portland, Ore., Benjamin (Alisan) Martin of Mill Valley, Calif., and Sibella Mackenzie (fiance Jeremy Marshik) of Minneapolis; great-grandchildren Greta, Ivy, and Simon Goodspeed and Cecilia Lane Martin; and son-in-law, Franc Sloan.

No services are planned at this time. Arrangements are by Clasen-Jordan Mortuary. No flowers, please. Donations to PEO chapter CU in Austin or to Ten Mile Lake Association in Hackensack.

She was the most perfect and loving wife and mother, beloved of the Lord and her family and friends.