Virlene (Renz) Mauck Knecht

Virlene (Renz) Mauck Knecht, 95, of Aberdeen, passed away Saturday, October 31, 2020, at Bethesda Home of Aberdeen.

Due to COVID, Virlene’s family has chosen to have a private family service at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, November 3, 2020, at Schriver’s Memorial Mortuary & Crematory, 414 5th Avenue NW, Aberdeen, with Pastor Blair Kirkpatrick, of Plymouth Congregational United Church of Christ, officiating.

Burial will take place at Greenwood Cemetery in Mobridge, SD.

Family and friends may sign Virlene’s online guestbook and view her service via the live stream service link at www.schriversmemorial.com.

Memorials are preferred to:  Bethesda Home of Aberdeen, 1224 South High Street, Aberdeen, SD  57401.

Virlene Renz was born on June 3, 1925, on a little farm near Artas, SD, to Emil and Maggie (Kost) Renz.   She was their second daughter.  The family moved to a farm three miles south of Mound City, SD when she was six months old.  Virlene spent her school years through tenth grade at Mound City.  She graduated from Java High School in Java, SD in 1943, second highest in her class.  Virlene then enrolled in a six-week summer school course at Northern State Teachers College in Aberdeen and taught country school for two years before moving to Mobridge, SD in 1945, where she was employed in the office at J.C. Penney.  She loved living in Mobridge.

Virlene married Eddie Mauck in July of 1946.  In addition to being a stay at home mother raising her children, Virlene’s working career also included employment at Mobridge Iron Works, Spiry Clinic, TSC Store, the Mobridge Police Department and Mobridge Regional Hospital.  She always said her life was never dull and loved every job she ever had.  Virlene was a member of the First Baptist Church in Mobridge.

Virlene divorced in 1977 and moved to Sturgis, SD in the fall of 1979.  She took the position of Head Dispatcher for City/County Law Enforcement.  What an exciting four years!   She then decided it was time to move back to Mobridge and start again.

Virlene married Jim Knecht in 1983 and moved to Selby, South Dakota.  She loved living in Selby and a bonus was that she could still spend time with her family in Mobridge.  She was a member of the UCC Church of Selby, Selby Women’s Club, UCC Ladies Fellowship and UCC Choir.

In 2000, Jim and Virlene sold their home and moved to Aberdeen.  It was a great move!  She joined Plymouth Congregational Church, volunteered at Avera St. Luke’s Hospital, which she really enjoyed, and also entertained the residents at Manor Care.  Her piano skills were such a hit.  Virlene always said that her retirement years in Aberdeen spent meeting new people and serving the community was such a joy to her.  For the past year, mom had three caregivers:  Alyssa, Taylor, and Kenzie whom she cherished like daughters. Because of COVID, they were there for her when her family couldn’t be and for that Virlene’s family will be eternally grateful.

Virlene’s life was a beautiful masterpiece. Her finest legacy was her children .... who admired and loved her dearly and her friendship toward others.

Blessed to have shared Virlene’s life are her children:  Chuck (Amy) Mauck of Aberdeen, Kent (Helen) Mauck of Mobrdige, SD, Patti Mauck of Fairfax, VA and Cindy (Fran) Herman of Wayzata, MN; her grandchildren:  Melissa (Les) Thiery, Jessica (Pete) Aiello, Brandon (Becky) Mauck, Tabetha (Tim) Rabenberg, Toby Mauck, Jamie Mauck and Hayley Hilton (Scott); 13 great-grandchildren; and her sister, Idella Bohlander.

Virlene was preceded in death by both husbands, James Knecht and Eddie Mauck; infant son, Timmy Mauck; her parents, Emil and Maggie Renz; and her sister, Viola Himrich.

Pallbearers will be Chuck Mauck, Kent Mauck, Patti Mauck, Cindy Mauck Herman and Fran Herman.  Honorary pallbearers will be:  Kathy Moos, Sylvia Karst, Christine Martel, Alyssa Hintz, Taylor Speidel
and McKenzie Schutz.

Virlene’s family would like to thank Chris Nelson and Dr. Conklin, Parkside Retirement community, Town Square community, Bethesda Home of Aberdeen and Avera Hospice for all the love and compassion shown to Virlene and her family throughout the years.

“There are some who bring a light so great to the world that, even after they have gone, the light remains.”  Blessed be her memory.

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