Virgil Mercil, 95, passed away on Sunday July 18, 2021 at Thief River Care Center, Thief River Falls, MN

Mass of Christian Burial will be 1:30 PM Friday, July 23, 2021 at St. Bernard's Catholic Church in Thief River Falls, MN with Father Rick Lambert officiating. Burial will be held at St. Bernard's Catholic Cemetery in Thief River Falls, MN. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church on Friday.

Virgil Medor Mercil was born April 29, 1926 at Brooks, MN the son of Medor and Elizabeth (Champagne) Mercil.  He was baptized and confirmed at St. Joseph's Church, Brooks.  He attended Brooks Elementary School and attended Pershing High School, Plummer, MN.  He began working on the Soo Line Railroad in August of 1942 and retired from railroading in July of 1986.

Virgil served his country in the United States Army from August 1944 until his honorable discharge in August of 1946.  He was stationed at Ft. Warren, WY and for a short time in Camp Clairborne, LA.  He finished his tour of duty serving in Korea.

On January 4, 1945, Virgil was united in marriage to Muriel Jane LaFriniere at Greeley, CO.  The couple moved to Mahnomen, MN following Virgil's discharge, until 1949, when they moved to Harlow, ND.  They lived in Harlow until August of 1954, when they moved to Newfolden, MN, until 1981, when they moved to Detroit Lakes, MN.  They moved back to Brooks, MN after Virgil's retirement and then to Thief River Falls, MN in 1990.

He was a member of St. Bernard's Church, Thief River Falls. Virgil enjoyed playing steel guitar with the "Smokey Mountain Boys" for many years.

Virgil is survived by 3 children, Donna (Myles) Koop, Thief River Falls, MN, Jeff Mercil, Thief River Falls, MN and Steven (Kathy) Mercil, Strandquist, MN; 9 grandchildren, Shawn (Darrell) Flaten, Thief River Falls, MN, Tim Langlie, Thief River Falls, MN, Terry Mercil Jr., Minneapolis, MN Johnnie (Debbie) Mercil, Rockford, MN, Veronica (Nick) Briden, Waconia, MN, Stacey Mercil, Anchorage, AK, Andrea (Dave) Clausen, Pequot Lakes, MN, Chiri (Brian) Hart, Rosemount, MN and Stephanie (Gary) Maurstad, Thief River Falls, MN; 20 great grandchildren; 2 great-great grandchildren; brothers, Wendell  Mercil, White Bear Lake, MN and Gerald (Gen) Mercil, Minneapolis, MN.

Preceded in death by wife, Muriel; parents; son Terry (Theresa) Mercil, grandson Daniel Langlie, sisters, Mildred Ost, Yvonne Morinville, son-in-law, Noral Langlie; brothers-in-law, Roy Ost, Lawrence Morinville, Richard LaVoy, Jim and Mike LaFriniere, sisters-in-law, Phyllis Waite,  Joey Simonson, Sharon Bonamie, Audrey LaVoy, and Lois Larson.

Family condolences may be sent by visiting www.johnsonfuneralservice.com