Aug. 8, 1916- Oct. 21, 2009

Eagle River resident Virginia V. Ryan, 93, died Oct. 21, 2009, in Girdwood.

A private service will be at a later date and she will be inurned with her husband at the family cemetery plot at Forest Hill Cemetery in Durand, Wis.

She was born Aug. 8, 1916, to Edward J. and Rose (Kiel) Von Haden in the Tomah, Wis., area.

Ryan and her husband moved to Alaska in 1946. They were true pioneers - building their own homes and cabins. Both enjoyed hunting, fishing, gardening, traveling and flying their plane.

Ryan was preceded in death by her husband, Edmund J. Ryan.

She is survived by her sister, Shirley Heeter of La Crescent, Minn.; nephews, Vaughn (Jane) Heeter, Ranard Heeter, Reginald Heeter, David (Sarah) Heeter, and Harlan Heeter, all of the La Crescent area, and Patrick (Virginia) Ryan, and Charles (Isabel) Ryan of Golden Valley, Minn.; and many grandnieces and grandnephews. She is also survived by her cousins, Jim (Beverly) Ryan of Farmington, Minn., and Patricia (Jim) Mau of Mesa, Ariz.

Her family wrote, "We thank her many friends and neighbors who helped her through her final days."

Arrangements are with Witzleben Legacy Funeral Home and Crematory.