Virginia Lyn Hammond

Virginia Lyn Hammond went home to be with God March 28 2026. She was born to Jim and Mary Riedlinger in Plentywood, Montana on July 6th of 1973. 

As was her habit, she burst into everyone’s world as a bright ray of sunshine. Her yearly years were spent between Wolf Point and the Bucklin Ranch near Redstone, Montana. At age 5 she started school in the remote village of Emmonak, Alaska, and lived in Native Alaskan villages until they moved down to Missoula in 1988. 

Her fond memories of Alaska included a short-lived enjoyment of Copenhagen snoose, riding behind her dad on snow machines, Christmases spent with family in Homer, and learning native culture. 

Virginia graduated from Missoula’s Hellgate High in 1991 and then attended North Idaho College where she met and later married her husband of 32 years, Sean Hammond. Virginia obtained her Bachelor’s, and Master’s degrees in Math Education from Montana State University. She taught in Hot Springs Montana, for 6 years, and at Coeur d’Alene Charter Academy for 22 years and finished her career as their Vice Principal. She was absolutely dedicated to Coeur d’Alene Charter and touched countless lives throughout her career. She was also a dedicated Sunday School teacher at Spirit Lake Baptist Church where she and Sean were active members for over 20 years. 

Virginia was an accomplished painter, and enjoyed quilting, kayaking, spending time at the "Ol' Ranch" above Thompson River, working in her gardens and orchard.  She was known as an excellent cook and loved to make her family's wild game smoked sausages.  Virginia was generous, caring and loving to all within her grasp. She was known as Gin to her mom and Virg to her husband and friends.  She was a loving and adoring friend, daughter, sister, wife and mother. She lived life fully and well, and like a bright star she burned out much too soon.  She loved to make other's lives happier and easier.  That is what filled her heart.  Her smile and laugh came easy and were contagious.  She will be greatly missed.  

She is survived by her parents Jim and Mary Riedlinger of Outlook, Montana, her brother Reid of Wellington, Colorado, her sons Evrett, Nathan and Nathan’s wife Becky, and her husband Sean all of Spirit Lake, Idaho. 

Her celebration of life will be at the Coeur d’Alene Charter Academy on April 18th at 11:00 am.