Virginia Irene Hearn

Virginia Irene Hearn, age 89, passed away peacefully on July 9, 2018. Born in Walla Walla, Washington, December 11, 1928, to parents Niles Edward Hulse and Selma (Buskala) Hulse. From approximately age four, Virginia and her younger brother Niles, were raised by her mother and stepfather, Harold A. Spears, and moved often due to her stepfather's search for work. The children acquired their stepfather's name (Spears), and were formally known as Virginia Irene Spears and Niles Edward Spears. The family moved to Montana in 1939, and Virginia remained in western Montana until moving to Lewiston, Idaho in 1975. She married Gerald P. Harrington in 1944, and after a divorce, married Charles E. Hearn in 1963. Virginia and Charles remained happily married with great love until his death in 1989. Charles was a foreman for road construction for many years, resulting in Virginia moving throughout Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming on construction sites. Virginia had two sons from her first marriage, Harold P. Harrington and Stephen L. Harrington, and one son from her second marriage, Fredrick Charles Hearn.

Employment over the years included waitress, department store sales person, and owner of Spears Sporting Goods in Missoula. Trained in cosmetology, she was a long time employee of The Bon Marche in Missoula and Lewiston, working in cosmetics and clothing. In addition to sales, she also modeled for the stores. She loved to cook, dance, golf, travel, and live life to the fullest. She traveled throughout the U.S.A, and overseas travels included Okinawa, Japan, Egypt, Israel, and Hong Kong. She was the last descendant of the Henry Buskala family (grandfather) to have lived on the historical Henry Buskala homestead ranch in the Black Hills of South Dakota.

She lived in Lewiston, Idaho, from 1975 to the middle of 1990s, when she met Kent Nielsen (life partner) and later moved to San Marcos, California. As fans of jazz and dance, they traveled frequently to jazz events throughout the country. She loved the climate and many friends in San Marcos, and remained there after Kent died in 2010, until relocating to Rocklin, California in 2012, to be near her son (Stephen) and family. Disabled from a stroke in 2015, she was a resident of Windsor El Camino Care Center in Carmichael, California until her passing. The family extends a sincere thank you to the staff at Windsor El Camino for their care and professionalism while she was in their care.

Virginia was preceded in death by her parents, brother Niles (Roseburg Oregon), husbands and life-partner, and son Harold P. Harrington. She is survived by sons Stephen Harrington (Miyoko) and Fredrick Hearn (Darla), seven grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren, and one great-great grandson.

Virginia will be interred next to Charles Hearn in Montana. Internment and a memorial service will be held for her at 11 a.m., Friday, July 27, 2018, at Sunset Memorial Gardens, 7405 Mullan Road, Missoula, Montana.