Virginia Martha Tonkovich

Virginia Tonkovich, 91, of Great Falls, Montana, passed away on July 13, 2021. Virginia passed peacefully after a brief decline in health. A funeral liturgy will be held at Holy Spirit Catholic Church on Thursday, July 29, 2021, at 10:30 a.m. followed by interment at Mount Olivet Cemetery. Virginia was born in Black Eagle, MT on July 29, 1929, to Stefania and Matthew Antonich, who owned the Chicago Mercantile. She grew up with two sisters and a brother in Black Eagle, MT. Virginia graduated from Great Falls Saint Mary’s High School Class of 1947. She married William “Bill” Tonkovich on October 20, 1951. Virginia and Bill had one daughter and two sons. She worked for the Great Falls Board of Realtors for many years before retiring. Loving mother, aunt, grandma, great-grandma, and friend, Virginia was kind and generous to all. She was known for her Croatian cooking such as prisnac’, spinach pie, and ravioli, along with great cookies and pies. Her povetica was famous among her family and was an eagerly awaited treat every Christmas. Virginia was an avid reader of mystery stories, and she traveled with her family to locations across the United States and Europe, even braving a helicopter and a submarine ride in Hawaii at the age of 86. Virginia is survived by her eldest son, Jerry of Seattle, WA and his children, Amanda, Katie, Dan and Rachel and great-grandchild Miko; daughter, Sue and husband, Chip Anderson of Kalispell, MT; and son, Steve and wife, Marsha Tonkovich of Philadelphia, PA. She was preceded in death by her husband, Bill Tonkovich; brother, John Antonich; sisters, Anna Bauer and Sister Monica Antonich.