Virgil_L_Beil

Obituary

Java - Virgil L. Biel, 78, Java, died Saturday, May 13, 2006, at Avera St. Luke's Hospital, Aberdeen. His funeral service will be 10 a.m. Thursday at the Selby United Church of Christ with Pastor Susan Carr officiating. Organist will be Carol Fiedler and soloist will be Trudy Carpenter. Ushers will be Dan Biel and Steve Biel. Burial will follow at the United Church of Christ Cemetery, Java. There will be a prayer service at Miller Funeral Chapel, Selby, 7 p.m. Wednesday, with visitation beginning at 5 p.m. Virgil LaVern Biel, son of Martha (Zimmerman) and Theodore C. Biel, was born at his parents' farm 10 miles north of Java in Campbell County, on Aug. 19, 1927. This is where he was raised and attended the Kundert Rural School. He attended Java High School until his dad's illness prompted him to return to the farm. He married Delila Aman at Java on Aug. 28, 1949. They settled on Virgil's home place. In June 1984, they moved into Java; however, Virgil remained active in farming as long as his health allowed. He belonged to the Sutley German Congregational Church. Upon its dissolution, he joined the Java United Church of Christ. When it dissolved, he joined the Selby United Church of Christ. Over the years, he was active in many church leadership positions and was currently the moderator of the Oahe Association of the United Church of Christ. Virgil was a 20-year member of the Campbell County Soil Conservation District Board, served on the Campbell County ASCS committee, served on the Northeastern Mental Health Board, and was a Campbell County commissioner for eight years. After moving to Java, Virgil served as a Walworth County commissioner for 12 years, belonged to the Northeast Council of Governments (NECOG), was on the Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) Board, and was on the Java Town Board, being chosen chairman May 1, 2006. When Virgil was elected or appointed to a board, he took the responsibility seriously and adjusted his schedule to attend the meetings. In 1961, the Herreid Junior Chamber of Commerce voted Virgil Campbell County's Outstanding Young Farmer and in 1994, NECOG recognized Virgil as the Senior Conservationist of the Year. He also received a special award for dedicated service to the North Central RC&D Association. Virgil loved horses and recently sold one of his quarter horses to a close relative, happy that it would have a good home. Family members surviving Virgil include his wife, Delila Biel of Java; two sons: Dick (Pam) Biel of Huron and Todd (Deb) Biel of Java; one daughter, Roberta (Doug) Eisenbeisz of Aberdeen; two sisters: Priscilla (Ervin) Mueller of Java and Arba (Mylo) Huber of Akaska; and six grandchildren. Virgil was preceded in death by his father on Nov. 27, 1979, and his mother on Dec. 26, 1994. Honorary bearers will be the Java Town Board. Casketbearers will be Cassie Krall of Pueblo, Colo., Jacob Biel of Sioux Falls, Joshua Biel of Huron, Derek Eisenbeisz and Terry Nelson of Aberdeen, Kenneth Schuh of Bowdle, Craig Aman of Faribault, Minn., and Richard Mueller of Miller. The Biel family prefers memorials to the Selby Cancer Support Group, PO Box 24, Selby, SD 57472. Miller Funeral Home, Bowdle, is in charge of arrangements.
Published in the Aberdeen News on 5/16/2006.