Virgil LeRoy Stickler was born the youngest of nine children to Harley Ezra and Thelma Margaret (Johnson) Stickler on October 10th, 1939, at the Murdo Hospital. He joined siblings: Melvin, Bobby, Ken, Darrel, Glen, Isabelle, Hazel, and Bonnie at the family farm five miles northwest of Okaton. Growing up, Virgil enjoyed all the things rural farm kids did. He helped with farm chores, worked for neighbors, and started his lifelong love of playing cards. Virgil attended Grandview Country School, grades 1-8, one year of high school at Pierre T.F. Riggs, and graduated from the Murdo High School with the class of 1957.

After school, Virgil worked at Pete Joy’s International Dealership before being drafted into the United States Army and serving with honor during the time of the Vietnam War. It was in the service that he met some of his greatest friends with whom he kept a lifelong connection with. Following his service, Virgil returned to the Murdo and Okaton areas where he remained throughout his entire life.

In the fall of 1967 Virgil met his future wife at one of the Draper dances. On September 28, 1968, Virgil married that sweetheart he met at the dance and began his life with Kathleen Faye McMillan. Throughout their early married years, Virgil and Kathleen lived in a variety of places as they welcomed their three daughters: Corinna, Carrie, and Carla to their lives. During this time, Virgil worked a menagerie of jobs including: Anderson Gas, Graf Construction, farming on the Stickler place and with his father-in-law, and Corky’s Auto Supply, before starting a 30-year career at Murdo Ford-Mercury. After retiring from the Ford Garage, he took on a new career as a rural mail carrier. He also greatly enjoyed his summer job of running a combine for Heath and Greg Hauptman Harvesting.

Over his life, Virgil enjoyed many hobbies including bowling (in which they won the state tournament), playing any card game, croquet, and he was an early member of the Murdo Golf Course. He also enjoyed hunting and fishing, tinkering, and making his ever famous “penny-pinchers”, “washer and dryer”, and “quarter-pounders”.


Grateful for having shared in his life are his wife of 57 years Kathleen; daughters: Corinna & Justin Boyle of Vivian, Carrie & David Lolley of Murdo, and Carla and Chris Hruby of Huron; seven grandchildren: Caylee (Nate) Sorum, Jordan (Marcus) Trumbo, Nik (Teresa Hebert) Boyle, Jake (Naomi) Lolley, Carson (Rosie Cerulla) Hruby, Zach Boyle, and Camryn (Matthew) McKinley; three great-grandchildren: Deacon, Griffin, and Roarke; brothers-in-law Mike McMillan, Casey (Marlene) McMillan, and Lyle Dennis; and sisters-in-law Teresa Schweitzer and Sadie Stickler; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Virgil was preceded in death by his parents Harley and Thelma Stickler; siblings: Melvin (Lucille), Bobby, Glen, Kenny, Darrel (Wanda), Isabelle (Bill) Ellwanger, Hazel (Bob) Foley, and Bonnie Dennis; mother and father-in-Law Helen and Jess McMillan; sister-in-saw Cheryl McMillan; and many nieces, nephews, and friends.

Virgil went home to be with the Lord on March 1st, 2026. He will always be remembered for his kind, gentle, and soft-spoken ways, as well as his witty, dry humor.

Per his request, no formal funeral will be held, but a celebration of life gathering will be held at the Murdo Senior Citizens Center on Saturday, March 14th, 2026, from 2-4 p.m. CDT with a prayer offered at 3 p.m.

Help us keep Virgil's memory alive by enjoying a hot cup of coffee, a cold Bud Light, some Reese’s peanut butter cups, and by telling a good joke.