Virginia Summer

Virginia (Ginny) Rae Summer, age 74, of Alexandria went home to Jesus on Wednesday, June 13, 2018. A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, June 19, 2018 at the Alexandria Covenant Church. Ginny was born on October 2, 1943 in Minneapolis to Harold and Elizabeth (Betty) Blume. She grew up on a farm near Herman, MN and graduated from Herman High School in 1961. After graduation, she moved to San Francisco. Although she loved California and the ocean, she returned home and reconnected with the neighbor boy, Paul Summer. They were married on December 27, 1969 at the United Methodist Church in Herman. They lived on the Summer family farm, where they raised three children. Ginny’s interest in politics led her to the University of Minnesota Morris to receive her degree in political science. Throughout her life, she was involved in children’s ministry. Early on, she directed the church choir, played the organ and piano, oversaw the Sunday school program, and directed children’s Christmas pageants. Later, she received her Divinity degree and became a children’s pastor, where she found her true calling of teaching young children about Jesus and the Word of God. She made it her mission to teach children about the love of Jesus and to know Him as their personal savior. This calling was most evident in her teaching of her grandchildren. Ginny’s greatest gifts were family and faith. She deeply loved her husband, Paul and held his role as a father, farmer, and husband in high regard. She loved her children and regularly expressed how proud she was of them. One of her greatest joy was being called Grandma. Ginny let everyone know how much she loved her grandchildren, and that they got their good looks and intelligence from her.

Ginny was preceded in death by her parents, Harold and Betty Blume, her brother, Mike Blume, and her sister-in-law, Darlene Blume. She will be deeply missed by her husband, Paul Summer of Alexandria; daughter, Michelle (Doug) Jones of Plymouth; sons, Mark (Rebekah) Summer of Alexandria, Jonathan (Tami) Summer of Alexandria; granddaughters, Shelbey (Donavon) Clever of Moorhead, Micah Summer, Shiloh Summer, and Asher Summer of Alexandria; step-granddaughter, Jackie (Gary) Cooper of St. Louis Park; grandson, Sawyer Marthaler of Moorhead; step-grandson, Jesse Jones of Minneapolis; brothers, Joe (Susan) Blume of Herman, Walter Blume of Herman, Paul (Beth) Blume of Herman, David Blume of St. Paul; sisters, Kathy (Keith) Bacon of Rochester, Pat (Greg) Knight of Ramsey; and many nieces and nephews.