Virginia Allen, age 89 of Fort Collins, Colorado, and former Cheyenne and Kimball County resident, passed away early Friday morning, August 19, 2011 at the Spring Creek Health Care Center in Fort Collins.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, August 25, in the Prairie West Christian Church in Potter with Pastor Forest Saylor of Fort Collins officiating.  Burial will follow in the Potter Cemetery.

Friends may stop at the Gehrig-Stitt Chapel on Wednesday from 1-7:00 p.m.

Memorial contributions may be made in Virginia’s name to the Heart Fund of the donor’s choice.

Gehrig-Stitt Chapel & Cremation Service is in charge of the arrangements.

Elsie Virginia Hruza Allen, the daughter of Jacob and Matilda (Anderson) Nelson was born on April 6, 1922 on the ranch south of Potter and Dix.  She graduated from Dix High School in 1940 and received her Registered Nursing Degree from St. Luke’s Hospital School of Nursing, Denver, Colorado, in 1943.  On September 25, 1943, Virginia was united in marriage to U.S. Navy Chief Petty Officer Frederick D. Hruza.  They lived at several Naval Air Stations in California from 1943-1951.  Virginia continued her nursing at Permanette Hospital at Oakland, California, from 1947-1949.  They moved to Kimball in 1952 and she worked at the Kimball County Hospital before moving to Sidney in 1954 and became Director of Nursing at Sidney’s Memorial Hospital.  Frederick passed away on April 14, 1957.  On August 16, 1959, Virginia was united in marriage to James C. Allen, owner of Allen Refrigeration.  They moved to Cheyenne, Wyoming, in 1960 where she worked at the Hospital there from 1962-1965.  They moved to Portland, Oregon in 1965 and she retired as Divisional Director of Quality Assurance Services, Providence Hospital.  They lived in Alamo, Texas, and Fort Collins before moving to Vancouver, Washington, in 1999.  Mr. Allen passed away on March 12, 2000 and Virginia moved to Potter in 2002.

Survivors include (2) sons:  Michael Hruza and wife Debi of Littleton, Colorado, and Roger Allen and wife Kieu of Fort Collins; (1) brother:  Leonard Nelson and wife Laura of Kimball; (2) sisters:  Melba Hendee of Scottsbluff and Joan Dana and husband Pete of Laramie, Wyoming; (1) sister-in-law:  R. Peggy Nelson of Gering; (5) grandchildren:  Jennifer Hays, Heidi Ritchie and Alexa, Jessica and Rebecca Allen; (5) great-grandchildren and numerous extended family members and friends.