Virginia Lea Jones, 91, of Stapleton, Nebraska pass-ed away July 29, 2021, at Linden Court in North Platte, Nebraska.
Virginia was born on January 7, 1930 to Robert Parvin Baskin and Thelma E. (Harvey) Baskin in the original ranch house on Diamond Bar Ranch.
As a lifetime resident of Logan County, Nebraska, she attended Stapleton Elementary school and completed the 8th grade. She then attended High School at the University of Nebraska School of Agriculture in Curtis, Nebraska. She graduated with the class of 1947, and was crowned the Goddess of Agriculture her senior year. A year later in 1948 she was crowned the first ever Logan County rodeo queen, winning it on one of her father’s stud horses.
She went on to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Vocational Education and Science from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in 1951. While at UNL, Virginia was a member of the Alpha Xi Delta sorority, the UNL rodeo team and won a co-ed riding contest for horsemanship, and is where she first met her future husband David L. Jones.
On August 9, 1953 Virginia was united in marriage to David Lee Jones of Hastings, Nebraska and from that union two children were born, Julie Ann and Robert Lee.
Following her passion for teaching, Virginia took her first job in education teaching home economics in Albion, Nebraska for two years. She soon came back to her beloved hometown of Stapleton and taught for 7 years and started the Stapleton High School volleyball team.
In 1955 she and David became owners of the Diamond Bar Ranch where she lived and worked for 58 years total. In 2001 the ranch celebrated its 100th year, and the couple worked tirelessly to improve the ranch and livestock. This was second nature to Virginia, who from a young age took pride in riding the infamous Baskin broncs, home-raised ranch mounts, raking hay with a team of horses and branding cattle.
Virginia was heavily involved in the beef industry on local and national levels. She held offices as Secretary and President of the Cowbelles, known today as Nebraska Cattlewomen, and as the president for many years of the local North Platte Cattlewomen. She served as the National Cattlewomen’s parliamentarian for three years.
Virginia cared deeply about her Sandhills community and served as president and founding member of Sandhills Association for Regional Progress (SHARP), was an involved member of the Nebraska Humanities Council, the American Legion Auxiliary, American Red Cross and was recently honored as a 65 year member of Daughter’s of the American Revolution (DAR).
She was a Logan County 4-H leader for 13 years and judged countless county 4-H home economics projects and at the Nebraska State Fair for nearly two decades. Virginia was honored as a 70-year member of Eastern Star and in 1976 she was named Worthy Grand Matron of Nebraska. She has been a lifetime member of the First Presbyterian Church in Stapleton, with five generations of her family to become members of the church. She loved devoting her time as a Sunday school teacher, Vacation Bible School teacher, trustee and member of the Presbyterian Women’s association.
Her hobbies included riding horses, barrel racing, painting and reading. She obtained a private pilot’s license in 1952 and loved to fly across the ranch checking horses and cattle, fences, and windmills. In her later years, Ginny was an avid golfer and enjoyed playing bridge during her winters in Arizona and following the activities of her seven grandchildren.
Virginia will be remembered as a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, all around cowgirl and rancher with a strong and determined spirit. She was hardworking, dedicated to her family and loved to tell stories, share the history of the Stapleton area and the family ranch. Virginia leaves her family with a rich history of their past and zest to further the family ranching legacy.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Thelma Baskin, her husband David L. Jones, an infant son born in 1960, and son-in-law Kurt Tunnell.
Survivors include two sisters Marybelle McMillan (Doug) of San Jose, California and Lorajane (Robert) Bolli of Wood River, Nebraska; Her daughter Julie Tunnell of Hilliard, Ohio and a son Robert (Susanne) Jones, of Stapleton, Nebraska; grandchildren Kristine (Tunnell) Helsper, Jordan and Jessica Tunnell, and Natalie, Shaylee, Grant and Lance Jones. Other survivors include seven nieces and nephews, Joe McMillan; Nancy (McMillan) Champion; Patty Hecht; Patti Bolli; Stephanie Bolli; Rebecca (Bolli) Luehr and Jonathan (Shelley) Hecht. A special thank you to Virginia’s nurses for their excellent care of her for eight years at Linden Court, especially to nurse Susan Jameson, a close Sandhills friend.
The family will be present for visitation at Adams and Swanson funeral home from 5-7 p.m. on August 6th.
Funeral services will be held at the Stapleton Presbyterian Church on Saturday, August 7, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. with Deb Dishman officiating, followed by burial at McCain Cemetery in Logan County.
Adams and Swanson Funeral Home of North Platte will oversee the arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Logan County 4-H Council.