Virgil Batesole

Virgil's funeral service is available to watch by scrolling down to the bottom of this page.

Virgil Keith Batesole was born in Pingree, ND in his grandparent’s home on July 17, 1930. He was the third child born to Helen M. Batesole and Harold O. Batesole. He lived in various towns in North Dakota until he and his family moved to Alexandria, MN at the age of 8 years. His parents farmed in the Alexandria area. Virgil attended a one-room school house in the Carlos area until he went to Central School for high school. He graduated with the class of 1948.

He worked at Osterberg’s Cafe for several years and they became his second family. He said they packed him lunches for his bus trip to California to enlist in the Navy.

He was in the Navy for 4 years, being honorably discharged in 1952. He worked for the Long Beach Shipyards as an electrician and decided he didn’t want to do that for the rest of his life. He decided to go college to be an electrical engineer while raising two daughters, Beckie and Sherrie with his wife, Donna.

After graduating from the University of Southern California (USC), he went to work for North American Rockwell (Boeing) as an electrical engineer where he worked for 34 years. He advanced in management from Project Engineer to Acting Vice President on numerous projects including the Minute Man Missile, the Space Shuttle and the Space Station. He retired from there in 1987.

He purchased the old Alexandria Hotel in 1977 with his brother, Zarryl, initially and began renovating it into apartments, now the Alexson Apartments. He became sole owner in the early 1980’s. He spent much of his free time, renovating the apartments to their present status.

When his wife, Jeanne, retired in 1990, they came back to Alexandria to manage the apartments and eventually bought a historic home on Lake Agnes as their residence. They became full-time residents in Alexandria in 2000. He enjoyed improving his surroundings and loved plants and flowers and built many gardens at his residence and at the apartments.

Virgil was active in numerous organizations in the Alexandria area including being a founder of the Downtown Merchants Association, Alexandria Rotary, Golden Kiwanis, veterans’ organizations, the Elks. He served 8 years on the Alexandria City Council for Ward 1. He loved his family and community deeply and worked tirelessly on their behalf.

He is survived by his wife, Jeanne, of 46 years; daughters, Beckie Bergeron, Banks, OR; Sherrie (Michael) Manning, Lahaina, HI; stepchildren, David (Sally) Plant, Riverside, CA; Jon (Rose) Plant, Redondo Beach, CA; Jacquie (Craig) Marquiz, Henderson, NV; Cyndi (Eric) Folsom, Winder, GA; sister, Leotta Schweiger, Santa Barbara, CA; brother, Garrel (Beverly), Minden, NV; sister-in-laws, Betsey Batesole, Wolcottville, IN and Cheri Schleber, Newark, NY; father-in-law, Harold Ludwig, Newark, NY; grandchildren, Blake, Jack (Sarah) and Jewel Bergeron; Burton Brunel, Joy (Devin) Sakamoto, Jayson (Sarah) Manning and Jake Manning; Hunter (Taylor) Chaney; Dakota Chaney; Malia (Bryson) Dunn; Torrey Cable; Tyler (Marlena) Plant; 2 great grandchildren; several nieces and nephews.

Virgil was pre-deceased by his parents, Harold O. Batesole, Helen M. (Delger) Batesole; brothers, Ralph and Zarryl; mother-in-law, Helen Ludwig; stepson, Steven Plant.

Virgil K. Batesole died peacefully on March 22, 2019 while on vacation in Maui, Hawaii.   A funeral service will be held on Saturday, April 6, 2019 at 11 AM at Shalom Lutheran Church.  A visitation will take place on Friday, April 5, 2019 from 5-8 PM at the Anderson Funeral Home and also for one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday.

Interment will be in Kinkead Cemetery where Military Honors will be performed.

Arrangements are with the Anderson Funeral Home in Alexandria. www.andersonfuneral.net