Virginia Lee (Schmidt) Engborg

Virginia Lee Engborg, 89, of Plainville, Kansas, passed away on March 6, 2026, at Redbud Village in Plainville.

Born on December 23, 1936, in Leesburg, Virginia, to Clarence A. and Nora (Lancaster) Schmidt, Virginia graduated from McPherson High School and attended Ottawa University. She married Paul Engborg, Jr. on July 8, 1956, at the First Baptist Church in McPherson, Kansas, where they lived until moving to Plainville in 1963. Together they raised three daughters, Julie, Diane, and Amy, whom she cherished as a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.

Virginia found joy in needlework, craft projects, and sewing, including making many bridesmaid dresses. Later in life, she and Paul took up woodworking, crafting treasured keepsakes for their family. Her faith was central to her life; she faithfully participated in every aspect of church life at the First Baptist Church in McPherson during her youth and later taught children’s Sunday School and assisted with Vacation Bible School. After moving to Plainville, she continued her service at the First Christian Church.

She served her community as a library board member for eight years, as a member of Plainville’s hospital auxiliary, and as a volunteer at the hospital gift shop. Virginia quietly lived out her deep faith by driving others to appointments and church services, delivering cinnamon rolls and meals, visiting friends in their homes, the hospital, or nursing homes, and lifting others in prayer. Her greatest joy was spending time with family and friends, especially at the many Schmidt family reunions held in Estes Park, Colorado.

She is survived by her daughters and sons-in-law, Julie (Tom) Melton and Diane (Ken) DePinto, both of Highlands Ranch, Colorado, and Amy (Keith) Becker of Plainville; sisters Shirley Short of Vancouver, Washington, and LaNora Hale (Dave) of Sulphur, Oklahoma; brothers Ramon Schmidt (Glenda) of Lawrence, Kansas, and Richard Schmidt (Elaine) of Sulphur, Oklahoma; sisters-in-law Tschudy Schmidt and Betty Schmidt; grandchildren Leah (John) Goodrich, David (Bethany) Melton, Eric (Claire) DePinto, Andrew (Cherish) DePinto, Aaron (Aubrey) Becker, and Kyle (Ashley) Becker; great-grandchildren Ava, Billy, and Mikey Goodrich, Elijah, Norah, Hudson, Caroline, and Malachi Melton, Nolan, Jude, Scout, and Wesley DePinto, August and Hazel DePinto, Elinn, Jayna, and Henley Becker; and many nieces and nephews.

Virginia was preceded in death by her husband, Paul Engborg; infant sister Anne Schmidt; brother John Schmidt; parents Clarence and Nora Schmidt; step-mother Marie Schmidt; brother-in-law Tom Short; and great-grandson Lawson Becker.