Virginia Ann Hart went to be with Lord September 5, 2020 at Gold Pine Home in Bemidji, Minnesota. She was born in Fenton, Minnesota, January 21, 1925 to Elmer Hart and Isabel Vogt Hart. She was the oldest with four brothers.
After high school, she went on to study physical education at the University of Minnesota. She was the first Phy-Ed teacher in the state of Minnesota. She also was the first woman driving instructor in Minnesota.
Her brother, Al, encouraged her to apply for a dean of women’s position at Oak Hills Bible Institute. She was accepted. While there for those 52 years, she taught English, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, Psalms, and some of the Pauline Epistles. She was well loved by the students. She also was staff and later speaker at girl’s camps, did summer VBS programs and was director of Women’s Homemaker’s camp for many years.
She married Arthur Anderson in June of 1963. That day she went from being single to having six step children and several step grandchildren.
Her family will attest that she was a woman of faith, loving, judgement free, honest, pragmatic, understanding and wise. She traveled the world serving others. She loved teaching the Word. She and Arthur blessed many students with their Arthur G. and Virginia A. Anderson Scholarship endowment fund award through the school.
She loved to fish, making quilts with Cindy, giving her children birthday parties where they could choose what food they wanted. Fondue and Curry were favorites. And of course her pickles, chocolate chip cookies and ice cream were not to be forgotten.
She retired from Oak Hills in 2015. She moved into Gold Pines Home December 2018 and resided there until her passing this September. The week before she went home to be with the Lord, the whole family “zoomed” with her on the computer telling her their goodbyes. She wasn’t able to speak but smiled a lot and thoroughly enjoyed it. The next day four more spoke to her by facetime on their phones. She passed into the arms of Jesus at 7:45 AM Saturday, September 5th, 2020. She will be greatly missed!
She is survived by two brothers, Rev. Rob (Jan) Hart of Marion, Iowa , Al (Sharon) Hart of Battle Lake, MN, six step children; J. Roger (Muriel) Anderson of Plymouth, MN; David (Kathy) Anderson of Alexandria, MN; Lois (Paul) Simonson of Bemidji, Richard (Donna) Anderson of Matthews, NC; Naomi Anderson of Maplewood, MN; Rachel Williams of Mount Herman, CA.; 14 step grandchildren; 33 step great grandchildren; 8 step great, great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Elmer and Isabel Hart, 2 brothers, Elmer Hart and Ted Hart.
In lieu of flowers, Virginia prefers memorials be sent to Oak Hills Christian College or Samaritans Purse.
On the day of Virginia' service, please go to: www.efcbemidji.org to live stream her service. Thank you.