Virgil Dale Nordby

Virgil Dale Nordby was born to Edwin and Esther (Hendrickson) in Perham, MN on April 6th, 1935. He died peacefully on March 7th, 2016 after a brief illness at the age of 80. Virgil attended country school and graduated from Menahga High School with the class on 1953. He married Verlene Ylitalo on July 21st, 1956 in Wolf Lake. They lived in Minneapolis, Fargo and Dilworth before moving to the Nordby farm in 1966. Virgil was a drywaller for many years, working in several different communities. Outside of work, he had a lifelong love of baseball, playing school ball, town ball and later managing the Wolf Lake Wolf Pack for more than two decades. He was proud to be recognized for 200 career wins as manager of the Wolf Pack and for appearing in numerous state tournaments. In 1992 he was inducted into the Minnesota Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame. In the community, Virgil volunteered and was involved with the Red Eye Riders Snowmobile Club, the Wolf Lake Lions and was Gaming Manager for a the Wolf Lake Baseball Club. He was baptized and confirmed and a lifelong member of Bethany Lutheran Church. He enjoyed the daily coffee and five-card crew in Wolf Lake, and always looked forward to deer hunting, actively hunting until age 80. He is survived by children Daniel, Green Bay; Ross, St Michael; Val (Brian)Burkman, Menahga; Jon, Menahga; Michelle (Ike) Kangas, Baxter; and Julie (Skip) Shepersky, Moorhead; grandchildren Gabe Nordby, Julie Brown, Carissa (Johnny) Proell, Jameson Burkman, Joe Nordby, Nicholas Burkman, Jordan Nordby, Andy Nordby, Vanessa Burkman, Jena Shepersky, David Nordby, Leah Shepersky, Hannah Kangas, Seth Shepersky and Gretah Kangas; great grandchildren MacKenna, Veronika, Addyson, Jacksen, Colson, Hudson and Rowan. He is also survived by in-laws Bette Nordby, Irene Nordby, Verna (Arnie) Engen, Clyde Ylitalo, Rodney (Alice) Ylitalo, cousins, nieces and nephews. Virgil was preceded in death by his wife Verlene (2013), parents Edwin and Esther, brothers Duane and Donnie, granddaughter Victoria Burkman and in-laws Hans and Miriam Aho, Wilbert Ylitalo, Mildred (Hugo) Kangas, Viola Kangas, Wesley (Delores) Ylitalo and Raymond (Esther) Ylitalo. Honorary pallbearers are his grandchildren and great grandchildren. Please join us in celebrating his life on Saturday, March 12th at 1:00 pm with visitation from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm at Bethany Lutheran Church, Menahga, Pastor Steven Bruer officiating. Burial will be at a later time at Union Cemetery.