Virginia Irvine Dale entered the world April 29th, 1921 on Copper Street in Butte, Montana. Reaching her 94th birthday, she gently departed May 8th, 2015, walking with grace and love while here.
Hailing from mining stock descending mostly from Cornwall, England, she grew up in Butte. Parents, aunts, and uncles, who considered her a Shirley Templesque figure, only more talented and dear, nurtured her to adulthood.
Attending schools in Butte through high school, she completed a BA degree in English from the University of Montana and worked as an English, Latin, and Drama teacher starting in Columbus, Montana. She continued teaching at Beaverhead High School in Dillon, Montana from 1945 to 1951 where she was attracted to a World War II veteran and Montana Western student driving a yellow convertible. Even beyond the car, they found compatibility and Virginia and Hal Dale were married July 2nd, 1950, honeymooning on an exotic Tobacco Root Mountain mining claim near Twin Bridges.
The two eventually moved to Missoula and became four with daughters Paulette and Ginny Lee following them. In 1961 Virginia returned to teaching, first at Sentinel High school in Latin and settling into teaching English at Hellgate High school until 1978. She was known for dramatic Shakespearean readings enacting all parts, breathing life into those ancient words for her students. She was voted most popular teacher two years running by Hellgate students. Virginia was a long time member of Delta Kappa Gamma (a professional honorary of women educators). She was president of the Dillon branch of the American Association of University Women as well as leading her daughters’ Bluebird (young Campfire Girls) group. She created an award winning bluebird house building drama with the help of Hal’s carpentry skills and her troupe’s enactment.
Hal and Virginia retired to another Tobacco Root mining camp, reclaiming it from mountain rats and mice and making it into a favorite family retreat and celebration site. Virginia, a rather refined person with family china and furniture, needed a more civilized home and so the pair returned to Dillon and commuted to their mountain camp. They remained 30 years in Dillon until July 2014 enjoying the kindness and support from friends, Virginia’s former students, and as they aged from hospital staff. Hal preceded Virginia in death less than four months before her own.
Daughter Paulette Hutcheon, daughter Ginny Dale, son-in-law Dan Gabig, granddaughter Madison Gabig, and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins survive Virginia.
Services will be in Dillon at St. James Episcopal Parish on Saturday, May 16th at 2:30 p.m. Ashes will be scattered with Hal’s at a later date in their beloved Belle Canyon. Memorials are suggested to Barrett Hospital Home Health Care in Dillon, the University of Montana Foundation or Rocky Mountain Hospice, Helena.
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