Virginia Kay Balek

Virginia Kay (Ginger) Balek, 78, of Augusta, passed away on Sunday, November 3, 2019, after courageously battling with cancer. She is happily dancing in heaven with her husband, Stan Balek. Cremation has taken place and there will be no services at this time. A celebration of life will take place in Augusta after the mountain snows melt next spring. Ginger was born September 8, 1941, in De Lamere, ND, to James and Vivian Blouin. She had six siblings, Kathleen, James, Leslie, Jerry, David, and is survived by one brother, Norman; and nephew, Pete Blouin, who lived with their family and was like a brother to her. Ginger’s father passed away when she was seven years old, so she was raised by Vivian and her loving step-father, John Wilson. Their family moved to Dutton, MT, where Ginger attended school. Working alongside her mother, Vivian, who owned the Dutton Café on Main Street, Ginger became a very fine cook! Ginger married Stanley Balek in 1961. Along with her children, Jackie and Robbie, Stan’s children Suzanne, Renee, and Tom made their family complete. Her home was a place where everyone was welcomed to share a good meal and laughter. Stan and Ginger owned and operated the Conoco service station in Augusta for 38 years. Ginger recently retired from the Buckhorn Bar where she was employed for over 36 years and developed the recipes for their delicious home-made sauces and salad dressings. She was well-known for her wonderful baked goods that were shared with family and friends. Especially appreciative were the bachelors of Augusta for whom she baked “little loaves” of sweet breads for the holidays. Ginger was a 50-year member of the Augusta American Legion Auxiliary (1969-2019) and was President of the Auxiliary five times. She started the Auxiliary’s “Cross” program, placing crosses and flowers on the graves of every military veteran in the Augusta Cemetery for Memorial Day. Ginger’s love of gardening spilled over into the community as she planted flowers and maintained Ping’s Park, the flower boxes at Legion Hall, and the flowers at the base of the stone veterans’ monument at Legion Park. She helped organize the annual Legion Fun Night, the Augusta community birthday calendar, and was a “4 Gallon” Red Cross blood donor. Ginger was loved and adored by her family and many, many friends. Giving and receiving hugs was her specialty! She said she had a good life with no regrets. Ginger was preceded in death by her husband, Stan; daughter, Renee; and grandson, Matthew. She is survived by her children, Jackie, Robbie (Judy), Suzanne (Ralph), and Tom (Linda); 10 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.