Sister Virginia Burgardt, 97, died March 24, 2026 at the Dominican Sisters of Peace Motherhouse in Great Bend, Kan. She was born July 31, 1928, in Holcomb, Kan., the daughter of John and Barbara (Kippes) Burgardt. She entered the Dominican Sisters community in 1946 and pronounced vows in 1949. This year marks her 76th year of religious profession.

From 1951-1954, Sr. Virginia taught primary grades at Strong City, Dubuque, and Schulte, Kan. She then ran the Diet Kitchen in the Convent where she cooked and baked for the sisters who had special diets and for the priests and visitors. From 1961-1975, she did Missionary Work in Africa. After a Sabbatical in 1976, she worked in Garden City as a Nurse Aid before taking time out to care for her mother. She worked a year as a Teacher’s Aide at St. Dominic School in Garden City and then put in 15 years working at the Hearing Aid office in Garden City. In 2007, she retired to the Motherhouse in Great Bend, Kan. where she actively helped out for many years. 

Sr. Virginia was preceded in death by her parents; sisters Anna Dreiling, Mary Baier, Katherine (Sr. Dorothy Burgardt OP), Rosie Knoll and Helen Uhrich; brothers John, Andrew, Jake, Peter, George, and Joseph also predeceased her. She is survived by brother and sister-in-law Clarence (Cheryl) Burgardt; many nieces and nephews; and the Dominican Sisters of Peace. 

A vigil service and sharing of memories will be on Monday, March 30, 2026, at 7 p.m. The Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. on March 31, 2026. Both will be in the Convent Chapel. Burial will be in the Sisters’ Resurrection Cemetery. Memorials in honor of Sister Virginia may be sent to Dominican sisters of Peace, 2320 Airport Drive, Columbus, OH 43219-2098. Condolences may be sent and notice viewed at www.bryantfh.net.

Funeral arrangements provided by

Bryant Funeral Home

1425 Patton Road

Great Bend, KS  67530

Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, March 26, 2026