Virginia Crowlena (Smith) Sutton

 Virginia Crowlena (Smith) Sutton of Great Falls, MT passed away on June 4th, 2022 in the care of her family, at the age of 93.  A Graveside Service will be held Saturday, June 11th at 4:00 PM at Highland Cemetery. 

Virginia was born in Great Falls, MT on April 15, 1929. She attended Whittier Elementary School, Paris Gibson Junior High and graduated from Great Falls High School in 1947. She then eloped with the love of her life, Luther Sutton in Helena in October of the same year. They returned to Great Falls to live with her parents. The couple eventually moved to Riverview Terrace where they finished the work on their new home. Together, they built a life filled with love and adventure, like raising chinchillas in the basement and jet-setting to San Francisco for dinner with a friend. It was during this time she accomplished some of her greatest achievements such as developing one of the first computer programs on punch cards for the City of Great Falls. She worked many years at the College of Great Falls, now the University of Providence, first in the business office and then went to manage the college bookstore. This position she loved as it allowed her to express her creativity.

In 1960, the family increased by one with the birth of their daughter Becky. Throughout Virginia’s life she enjoyed many hobbies and interest such as being active in the Methodist Church, gardening, and landscaping. She excelled at hosting wonderful parties, enjoyed cooking creative cuisine, Bingo nights with friends, bargain hunting at Goodwill stores, raising beloved pets, water and snow skiing and spending time at their trailer in Dearborn. She and Luther were generous with the daughters of the Nile and the Elks Club but were most passionate with the Shriners. Golfing their way across the country raising money for the Shriner Children’s Hospitals; She loved to travel but home was where her heart was. For years Virginia suffered from dementia and Alzheimer’s brought on by a bus accident. She is now at peace and knows who she is and that she is loved.

               Virginia is survived by her daughter Becky; son in law Tom Zimny; grandchildren Carol Zimny and Sarah Zimny, all of Great Falls; extended loved ones through marriage and friendships from Spokane, WA to Tennessee.

In Lieu of Flowers, the family requests that donations in Virginia's name be made to Benefis Peace Hospice House and to the Shriner's Children Hospital.

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