Virginia Mason

Virginia Mason, 73, of Fargo, North Dakota, passed away peacefully on Sunday, October 5, 2025, at Saint Catherine's North in Fargo. After courageously surviving pancreatic cancer, she was later diagnosed with Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD), which ultimately ended her life.

Virginia was born on March 19, 1952, in Fargo, North Dakota, to Harold and Esther Gill. She grew up on the family farm north of Fargo and loved being involved in track during her school years. She graduated from Fargo North High School in 1970 and went on to attend NDSSS, where she earned a certificate in computer operations.Her career began at UND in Grand Forks, where she worked as a computer programmer, running and scheduling programs and making sure reports reached the right hands. She later returned to Fargo and joined McKesson Drug Company, where she served as a computer warehouse supervisor.Virginia married Wayne Ohnstad, and together they lived happily on his family farm. They adopted their son, Thomas Wayne, and built a loving home filled with laughter and care. After her divorce, Virginia found a new calling - helping children and families in need. She became deeply involved in mental health advocacy, completing countless trainings and sharing what she learned to lift others up. She was passionate about understanding and supporting children with behavioral and emotional challenges, always leading with empathy and love.

Virginia and Thomas later moved into town, where she bought a home she cherished until her final years at Saint Catherine's. She adored her pets and found joy in training her dogs, Lady and Squirt, to become therapy dogs. Nothing made her happier than seeing the smiles on nursing home residents' faces when she visited - the dogs' tails wagging as much as the residents' hearts were warmed.

Gin also worked at the front desk of Rosewood Nursing Home (now Saint Catherine's North), where she greeted everyone with kindness and compassion. For more than ten years, she served as a Stephen Minister with Hope Lutheran Church, walking beside others through life's challenges and sharing her faith through service. One of her proudest moments was traveling to Jamaica with Habitat for Humanity, where she helped build homes and shared joy with the local children - their smiles a memory she carried forever.

Creative and talented, Virginia loved to sew. She made many of her own clothes, including a beautiful wedding dress when she found love again and married Rudy Mason. She also sewed meaningful gifts for others, such as a jean quilt for her godson, Chad Ohnstad, and a flower girl dress for her niece Sheila's wedding.

Virginia had a gift for connecting with people. Her caring heart, gentle humor, and willingness to listen made her a source of comfort and joy to so many. Her generosity and kindness left a lasting mark on everyone who knew her, and her spirit will continue to inspire us all.

Virginia was preceded in death by her husband, Rudy Mason; her parents, Harold and Esther Gill; sister, Evelyn Lean; brother-in-law, Earl Lean; brother, Leonard Gill; and sister-in-law, Lois Gill.She is survived by her son, Thomas; sister, Carol (Bill) Heuer; brother, Lambert (Lois) Gill; sister, Charlene (Scott) Kelley; stepchildren, Greg (Rachel) Mason; and their children, Sarah, Noah, Hannah, Isaiah, and Ezra.

The family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all the staff at Saint Catherine's North for their wonderful care of Ginny.