Virginia I. (Werle) Enstad

Virginia I. (Werle) Enstad of Pekin, ND, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, at McVille Community Hospital at the age of 99 years, to be with her Lord. She lived a beautiful life filled with faith, love, and kindness, touching the hearts of everyone who knew her.

Virginia was born on January 29, 1926, to Leroy and Hannah (Gudmestad) Werle in rural Upham, ND. On November 24, 1945, she married Harold Enstad, and together they raised three children: Karen, Darlene, and Catherine. Virginia dedicated her life to her family, community, and faith. She was a woman of unwavering strength, guided by her deep love for the Lord. Her prayers, wisdom, and gentle spirit provided comfort and inspiration to all who were blessed to know her.

In her younger years, Virginia worked for families in the Pekin community, always willing to lend a helping hand. Later, she became the Pekin Postmaster, a role that allowed her to connect with and serve her community for 26 years until her retirement in 1990. She also served as Pekin’s City Auditor and actively participated in Pekin’s Jubilees, Centennial, Pekin Days, and numerous church organizations. She was a devoted member of Pekin Lutheran Church and, in later years, of New Life Fellowship Church in rural Tolna.

Virginia loved the Lord with all her heart. Her life was a testament to faith, love, and family. She created a home filled with love and warmth, where she shared her wisdom, faith, and traditions with her children and grandchildren. A true prayer warrior, she faithfully lifted her loved ones in prayer and lived her faith daily. Whether tending to her beautiful flower garden, playing cards, quilting, baking, or simply spending time with loved ones, she embraced life’s simple joys and created lasting memories with her family. Her unwavering devotion to the Lord and her gentle spirit served as a guiding light to those around her, leaving a legacy of love and faith that will be cherished forever. Virginia faced life’s hardships with grace, enduring the loss of her husband, Harold, two daughters, Cathy Meyer and Darlene Alfson, grandson Daryl Meyer, granddaughter Kristi Hjelseth, and grandson-in-law Michael Fischer. She was also preceded in death by her parents, Leroy and Hannah Werle, and her siblings: Maxine (Harding) Bergstrand, Robert (Ruth) Werle, Dorothy (Ben) Frieborg, Ernest (Dorthea) Werle, and Mary (Lyle) Schultz. Through it all, her faith never wavered, and she remained a source of love and strength for her family.

She will be deeply missed by her daughter, Karen (Wayne) Hjelseth of Spearfish, SD; son-in-law, Loren Alfson of Binford, ND; and sister-in-law, Marlys Enstad of Barnesville, MN; and her cherished grandchildren: Dale (Linda) Hjelseth, David (Denee) Hjelseth, Kellie Jo (Brian) Dean, Derek (Trudy) Hjelseth, Lisa (Jerome) Short, Sheri Fischer, Craig (Tiffany) Briss, Lori (Chris) Nelson, and granddaughter-in-law, Patty Meyer.

She loved her great-grandchildren Jacob (Karlee) Anderson, Caden Hjelseth, Haley (Jon) Monteiro, Sarah Hjelseth, Hunter (Lauren) Dean, Jelsie (Remington) Wood, Maggie Wombolt, Oakley, Jayla, and Tenlee Hjelseth, Krista (Justin) Denny, Jakenda Short, Kaleb (Breanna) Short, Hannah, Makennah, Savannah, and Martyn Fischer, Joshua Briss, Rylan (Kayce) Briss, Kaylyn Briss, and Erica Villhauer; step-grandchildren Jerry (Brooke) Palleschi, Joe Palleschi, and Melissa Palleschi; and great-great-grandchildren Jase, Josie, and Kyler Anderson, Emmett Monteiro, Odhran Dean, Stetson Wood, Harlyn and Dillyn Denny, Nevaeh, Waylon, and Watson Briss, Madisyn Vilhauer, Jaxson Anderson, Tomi Lynn Manion, Jeryn, Jerzi, and Maria Palleschi.

Virginia also deeply loved her nieces and nephews across California, Utah, Arizona, Oklahoma, Florida, Texas, Virginia, North Dakota, and Minnesota. Special friends who held a dear place in her heart include John and Margie Messner, Darlene and John Kelly, Ilana Kelly, Debbie Hensrud, Don Hensrud, and Renae Gilbertson.

A public family service will be held on Sunday, April 6, at 2:00 p.m., and a celebration of life will take place on Monday, April 7, at 11:00 a.m., both at New Life Fellowship Church in rural Tolna, ND. Burial will be at the Pekin Cemetery, in the spring.

Virginia’s legacy of love, faith, and kindness will live on through the lives of those she touched. She will be missed by many – she was loved by all.