Virginia A. Lucier Hoyt, 86
Virginia A. Lucier Hoyt, age 86, of New Prague, died peacefully surrounded by her family on Thursday, September 17, 2020 at The Lutheran Home in Belle Plaine. Virginia was born on April 2, 1934 in Fargo, North Dakota to Charles E. and Cora A. (Vraa) Lucier. She graduated from Owatonna High School and received her teaching degree from Mankato State Teachers College. Her first job brought her to New Prague High School, where she would spend her entire career. She was a tireless advocate of women’s sports and was instrumental in starting programs for girls, such as gymnastics. Teaching was her passion and she could be found at school long after the school day ended, whether engaged in advising extracurricular activities like Pep Club and Homecoming or manning the gates at football and basketball games. Gregarious by nature, she developed many close friendships over the years with students she taught and her cheerleaders. She was well-known for her summers working at the New Prague Golf Club. After retirement she served many years on the school board and as an election judge.
She met her future husband, John G. “Jack” Hoyt in the autumn of her life and they married in 2001 in New Prague. At that time, Virginia became very active in the American Legion and VFW Auxiliaries, since Jack had served in the military. Their marriage was short-lived with Jack’s death just 5 years later. Virginia was extremely close to her nieces and nephews and proud also to be a great-aunt and then a great-great-aunt. She was proud to share the stories of their accomplishments and the time spent with them, as well as the family she knew as her New Prague family, the Moores.
Virginia is survived by 6 nieces and nephews and their St. Paul families and her New Prague family, the Moores; 14 great-nieces and –nephews; 6 great-great-nieces & -nephews. She is preceded in death by her husband, Jack; parents; sister, Betty Dress.
Private family Mass of Christian Burial will be held Thursday, September 24, 2020 at 11:00 AM at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church with Father Kevin Clinton officiating. Mass will be live-streamed on npcatholic.org. Burial will follow Mass at St. Wenceslaus Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers memorials preferred to NPHS Athletic Dept.