Virginia Cowan

Virginia Cowan, 94, Bismarck, died June 16, 2013, at St. Alexius Medical Center. A memorial service will be held on Thursday at 11:00 AM at McCabe United Methodist Church in Bismarck with Rev. Rick Fossum officiating. Burial will be at Fairview Cemetery in Bismarck. There will be no visitation as cremation has taken place. Virginia was born on December 1, 1918, in St. Louis, MO, the daughter of John and Inez James McCann. She graduated from Driscoll High School. She then attended and finished nursing school at St. Alexius and became a registered nurse. She first worked in St. Paul, MN, and later in Los Angeles before returning to Bismarck where she worked at Missouri Valley Clinic now Mid Dakota Clinic and St. Alexius Hospital. She married Bill Cowan on September 12, 1947, at McCabe United Methodist Church in Bismarck. They had one daughter, Cindy, on August 21, 1950. Virginia continued in nursing until 1955 when she decided to go to work alongside Bill in their store, Cowan Drug. She loved working in the gift shop and visiting with people as they came in. Their semiannual trips to Chicago and Minneapolis to market for their gift shop was always a special treat and something she really looked forward to. She made many wonderful friendships along the way. After they sold the drug store in 1993, Virginia went to work at Hoskins-Meyer Floral taking orders from customers. She worked there until 2006, when she finally retired in her mid 80's. Virginia enjoyed playing bridge and belonged to several bridge clubs. She was past-president of the Ladies Shrine Auxiliary and was a member of P.E.O, Elks, and Apple Creek Country Club. She also belonged to McCabe United Methodist Church where she sang in the choir and taught Sunday school for many years. Virginia is survived by one daughter and son-in-law, Cindy and Arden Johnson of Bismarck; two grandsons, David Amy Mayer of Bismarck and Bob Mayer of Las Vegas, NV; two great-grandsons, Noah and Miles Mayer of Bismarck; three step-grandchildren, Mara Johnson of Eden Prairie, MN, Scot Johnson of Greendale, WI, and Chad Natalie Johnson of Salt Lake City, UT; five step-great-grandchildren, Tyler, Paige, Derek, Katie, and Colby; two sisters-in-law, Marguerite McCann of Sioux Falls, SD, and Ruby McCann of Casselton, ND; one brother-in-law, Clem Stumpf of Glenwood, MN; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Bill Cowan; two brothers; and four sisters.

Virginia Cowan

December 1, 1918 - June 16, 2013