Virginia Poitra, age 88 of Dunseith died Thursday at a Rugby hospital.  Her funeral will be held on Wednesday at 9:00 am at the St. Michael's Catholic Church in Dunseith.  Her wake will be on Tuesday beginning at 6:00 pm with a service at 7:00 pm at the church.  Burial will be at the St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery in the spring.

Virginia M. Poitra was born the 2nd oldest of 14 children on December 29, 1929 at home to Mike and Josephine ("La Se Do" Davis) Poitra. She was raised in the Dunseith area and attended Greatwalker and Roussin schools. At the age of 17 she began working at San Haven doing various jobs. She then married Alfred R. Poitra on October 17, 1950 at Belcourt and together had eight children. They were married for 46 years until he passed on February 26, 1996. Around 1966, she went back to work in the laundry department at San Haven until it closed in 1987.

After her retirement, she enjoyed playing bingo and spending time with her family. She was a great cook and made Sunday dinner for them. She was well noted for her homemade noodles and donuts. In her younger days, she did a lot of canning in the fall. She did embroidery, also. Her favorite holiday was New Years Day and tend to bake up a storm. Virginia was a devoted Catholic and a member of St. Michael the Archangel Parish of Dunseith.

In November 2014, she entered in the Rolette Care Center and later admitted in Rugby Long Term Care until her passing. She will be lovingly missed by her family and friends.

Virginia is survived by her children: Susan (late Alan) Poitra, Bonnie (Lowell) Poitra, Ola Houle, Curtis (Linda) Poitra, Donna (Carson) Belgarde, Pam Poitra, Nolan (Lynda) Poitra all of Dunseith, ND; and Pearl (Mark) Poitra of Wisconsin Rapids, WI. Sisters: Ina Allery of Dunseith, Esther Eller of Dunseith, Mabel (Morris) Delorme of Bismarck, Mary Ann (Sandy) Morin of Dunseith, Linda (Dubby) Morin of Dunseith, Geraldine (Lindsay) Larson of Belcourt. Brothers: Arnold (Sonny) Poitra of Belcourt, Raymond Poitra of Dunseith, Peter Poitra of Rolette, Gene (Karen) Poitra of Belcourt. Sister-in-law Ginger Poitra of Belcourt. She had 27 grandchildren, 79 great-grandchildren and 36 great-great grandchildren.

She was proceeded in death by her husband Alfred, parents Mike and Josephine, 3 siblings, numerous brother and sister in-laws, and 2 grandsons.

Meal following at The Eagle Heart Building in Dunseith, ND.

Arrangements were with the Nero Funeral Home in Bottineau.  Friends may sing the online register book at www.nerofuneralhome.net.