Virgil passed away at the Veterans CLC facility in Vancouver, Washington after several months of hospice care. At 98 years of age, he was the oldest living member of the "original" Dahlstrom family. Prior to the last 10 years residing in King City, Oregon, he lived most of his life in the area of Minneapolis Minnesota.

Virgil was born to William and Elizabeth Dahlstrom in Hankinson, North Dakota. While a young boy, the family moved to the Anoka, Minnesota area, and then to the Hopkins area, settling on a farm in Eden Prairie. The Dahlstrom family had five children: Julian, Mildred (Millie), Keith, Virgil (Sonny) and Floyd (Snooky).

Virgil joined the Army after high school, serving his time in Germany with the occupation forces at the end of WWII. He gained rank of Staff Sargent. On a short leave home, just prior to leaving for Germany, Virgil lost his younger brother and best friend, Snooky, who suffered a brain aneurysm following practice with his high school basketball team.

In 1947, Virgil married Violet Harich, and they settled on the Eden Prairie farm property. While Virgil worked on the family farm as much as he could, he also was employed by several companies in Minneapolis. He was always seen as a hard worker with a keen business sense. In 1959, he started his own business - Viking Camper Supply, Inc., of which he was very proud. While his stores were located in the Minneapolis area, his mail-order-reach grew to be very successful and known nationwide, even reaching international customers.

A man of many talents, strong among them were his excellent carpentry skills with which he built two houses from the ground up with minimal help. Always a creative thinker, he built, among other things, several pickup campers, a swimming pool, remodeled a lake house and continued sharing his carpentry skills with others for years. In midlife, Virgil got his private pilot's license and purchased a Cessna airplane. Virgil loved to play his guitar and sing. He enjoyed reading and composing poetry. In retirement Virgil wrote two books (self-published). One was a family history: A Funny Thing Happened On The Way From The Farm, and, later, a tribute to his sister, titled: Millie.

Virgil was preceded in death by his parents, his siblings, his former wife, Violet (2007), and many other relatives and good friends.

Much loved as Dad / Grampa / Papa, he took great pride in his family. Virgil is survived by:

His three children: Mark (wife Janice) of Bradenton, Florida, Terry (wife Linda) of Ramsey, Minnesota, and Kathy Dahlstrom of King City, Oregon.

His 7 grandchildren: Kelly (husband Brendan), Bryan (wife Stephanie), and Ben (wife Heather), Chris (partner Alisha) and Jake (wife Melinda), Betsy, and Jeneen (husband Tommy).

His 22 great-grandchildren: Jack and Grace (Kelly's), Tristen, Kyle, Ryleigh, Jonathan and Kyla (Bryan's), Bryce, Gavin, Rosalie and Violet (Ben's), Isabella and Winnie (Chris's), Miles and Oliver (Jake's), Nic (wife Hannah), Minnie, Keegan and Cooper (Betsy's), and Austin, Caleb and Krissy (Jeneen's).

His 2 great-great-grandchildren: Ezra and Zara (Nic's).

Virgil will be interred at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis. Ceremony, with military honors, will be held Friday, May 15th.

Please visit Virgil's tribute on the Veterans Legacy Memorial website: vlm.cem.va.gov