Virginia June Torner

Virginia June (Bisbey) Torner was born November 28, 1921 and she died October 4, 2019.

She was born to Ray C. and Victoria A. (Uhlenhake) Bisbey in their home in Waterloo, Iowa; next door to Virginia’s father’s parents.

She lived during the Depression of 1929. Her mother took in laundry to be able to keep their home which Virginia helped her mother. Her father worked in the bean fields each day and took home $0.10 a day. During that time Virginia was taking piano lessons which, they were able to trade for laundry service. That did not last too long because she did not enjoy the style of music and wanted to quiet.

When Virginia was 15 her parents adopted a new baby boy from an orphanage in Fort Dodge, Iowa. He was named Donald and was called Don. She adored Don all his life and his years were short with his passing at 55 years old. Don was unable to say Virginia, so he called her Ginger and that name stuck for the rest of her life.

She worked at Black’s Department Store as an elevator operator. Soon after starting to work there she met Charles G. Torner. They got married on February 18, 1945. They were wed in Ginger’s parent’s home in front of their fireplace.

Ginger became a mother soon after with the birth of Dixie, Linda, Jacklyn, and Sheryl. She was a stay at home Mom caring for her family. To make extra money she baby sat some of the neighbor children while their Mom’s worked.

The family moved 25 times in the first 18 years of marriage. She enjoyed the adventure of moving to a different home and decorating it. Along with caring for the four girls she enjoyed cleaning house, sewing and baking.

From Waterloo, Iowa they moved to Marshalltown, Iowa which only last about 2 years.

From there it was on to Spencer, Iowa in North West Iowa where the snow was deep. Ginger and Chuck as Charles was known as learned to Square Dance. They then with their friends joined to create Spencer Squares Dance Club. The women got together and decided to sew a western shirt for the men and a western dance dress for the women; at that time Ginger was still a stay at home Mom.

Mom and Dad bought a bar and moved the family to Hartley. Ginger had to help with the running of the bar. Chuck bought a dance hall with grill a couple of years later. Ginger then took over the running of the bar while Chuck managed the dance hall and grill. They lived in Hartley about 8 years and returned to Waterloo, Iowa area. Ginger worked small jobs like hostess and salad prep in a restaurant.

They moved periodically since Chuck worked in the food business and Ginger helped with jobs in the restaurant. Some of the locations were in Iowa, Illinois, Texas, and California.

They retired in New Tazewell, Tennessee along a lake in a log cabin. After 11 years Ginger felt the need to move to Iowa. She lived by herself for 18 years. Then Ginger felt she needed more help and wanted to move into a nursing home but soon became board. She had been to Oklahoma several times and when offered a chance to move there she decided the warmer weather sounded good to her. She lived in her daughters’ home for almost 4 years.

She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers Donald Bisbey, Charles Torner; and daughter Sheryl Torner.

She was survived by daughters, Dixie Anderson, Lin Jones and husband, Terrill, and Jackie Johannsen; grandchildren RaeAnn Johannsen, Jessica Johannsen, Diana (Jess) Staver, William Johannsen, Renee (Brian) Bartz, Nicole (Kristian) Bell, Craig (Brittany) Harms.; great grandchildren Jake Johannsen, Isabelle Johanson, Mychael Johannsen, Bryce Staver, Parker Bartz, Kristopher Bell; great-great grandchild Kennery.

Viewing and Visitation with the family is 5pm -7pm Thursday, October 10, 2019 at Schaudt’s Tulsa Funeral Service, 5757 S. Memorial Drive, Tulsa, OK 74145.

Funeral Service will be 2:00 pm Friday, October 11, 2019 at Schaudt’s Tulsa Funeral Service Chapel.

Arrangements are entrusted to Schaudt Funeral Service. Family and friends may send memories and condolences to the family online at www.schaudtfuneralservice.com