Virginia May Fehringer

Raised in Wewela, South Dakota and Kuna/Nampa, Idaho by parents Lawrence and Leona Klas she was the fourth of five children. Virginia is survived by one brother, Leroy. Her other siblings, Walter, Thelma and Lorraine preceded her in death. She married Gerald Fehringer at St. Paul's Catholic Church in Nampa, Idaho in 1951.

Virginia and her husband Gerald began their married life in Nebraska and within a few years moved to Nampa, Idaho. In 1961 they relocated to Oregon when Gerald was transferred by John Deere Co. from the Boise, Idaho sales branch to the Portland, Oregon sales branch. Virginia's career was as a homemaker, mother and assistant deputy clerk at Deep Creek Elementary School in Damascus, Oregon from which she later retired.

Virginia pursued multiple hobbies including sewing, painting and puzzling and thoroughly enjoyed camping with her husband Gerald, four sons and family friends. Many weekends and summer vacations were devoted to excursions throughout the state of Oregon as her boys developed the love of fishing under the guidance of their father. When her boys became young adults, Virginia took up fly fishing so she could participate with them. Her incredible patience allowed her to become successful, much to the dismay of trout on the Metolius River.

Shortly before her retirement from the local school system Virginia and her husband began making annual September pilgrimages to the Rogue River in southwest Oregon to fish for fall chinook salmon. They were joined by their sons, their son's families and several family friends. This tradition continued for 33 consecutive years. Numerous years were highly successful with many of the fish caught by Virginia. A couple of years she earned the trophy for top "fish catcher". She always told her boat fishing partners that she just wanted to catch a "little one" because the big ones caused her too much stress and wore her out during the fight. The fish didn't always cooperate with her request as she participated in several epic battles with 20 plus pounders. The fishing and good camaraderie as well as many jokes and pranks made this a yearly special event which she continued through her 87th year.

Subsequent to a move from Oregon back to Idaho, Virginia and Gerald spent 20 summer seasons in their motor home camping and learning the art of woodcarving at Arrowhead Campground in Cascade, Idaho. Each year they made more friends and participated in carving totem poles, bears, beavers, cowboy caricatures and numerous other figures. These carvings have decorated both the campground and their places of residence.

Virginia was preceded in death by her husband of 72 years and is survived by their four sons and daughter-in-laws, nine grandchildren and thirteen great grandchildren.

We sons are grateful to our mother and father for our wonderful childhood, solid home life, values and faith, as well as the continued love and support we received throughout our lives. We additionally wish to thank both Touchmark at Meadow Lake Village Assisted Living in Meridian, Idaho and Edgewood Spring Creek Eagle Island Assisted Living in Eagle, Idaho for their loving care and attention to our mother as well as Keystone Hospice for their thoughtfulness and assistance.

Virginia's funeral service will be held on Friday, May 15, 2026, at 1:00 pm at St. Paul's Catholic Church, 510 W. Roosevelt Ave. in Nampa, Idaho. Recitation of the Rosary will precede the funeral service on Thursday, May 14, 2026, at 6:00 pm at Bowman Funeral Parlor, 10254 W. Carlton Bay Dr. in Garden City.

In lieu of flowers please consider making donations to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Virginia's name. This may be accomplished via their website: https://www.stjude.org or by mail at: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis TN 38105