- Date Of Birth: December 2, 1918
- Date Of Death: February 17, 2011
- State: Idaho
Virginia Rose Silva Kast
Virginia Rose Silva Kast, 92, passed away suddenly on February 17, 2011 at North Canyon Medical Center in Gooding.
Virginia was born on December 2, 1918 in Sparks, Nevada, the oldest of four children of Edward Manual Silva and Marian Emery Silva. She grew up in Browns Valley, California and attended high school in Marysville and Sutter.
At the age of 18, on January 3, 1937, she married Charles C. Kast at Grass Valley, California. They were together for 58 years, until his death in 1995, and had five children. Early in their marriage they began a cattle operation in Browns Valley, later expanding in Gridley and Oroville. In 1961 they moved to Idaho where they operated the 101 Ranch in King Hill, which eventually became Kast C.K. Cattle Company. In 1962 they purchased the Fir Grove Ranch near Fairfield. Virginia took on the role of wife, mother and homemaker. She was Charlie’s helper, family stabilizer, and a big motivating factor in their business ventures.
Virginia was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Charles; a sister, Katherine; and a granddaughter, Kimberly Kast Lampo.
She is survived by her children Sharron N. Presley (Lee) of King Hill, Christine A. Blevins of Troy, C. Michael Kast (Dawn) of Bliss, V. Mari Muffley (Bob) of Wendell, and James E. Kast (Marie) of King Hill; her siblings Elvera Barrie and Edward Silva, Jr. (JoAnn) of Browns Valley; 16 grandchildren, 38 great-grandchildren and 8 great-great-grandchildren.
As the matriarch of the large Kast family, Virginia was admired, respected and loved for her simple way of life, her love and knowledge of nature, her beautiful spirit, her constancy and her generosity. She is described as “best friend” and “hero” by family members, and was an inspiration to all who had the privilege of knowing her.
