Virginia May Swanson

Northview ~ North Mankato Mortuary 2060 Commerce Dr North Mankato, MN 56001 507-388-2288 Virginia "Ginny May" Swanson of Mankato MN, age 88, passed from this life, on January 6, 2015, following a lengthy battle with Alzheimer's, at Cottagewood Senior Communities, in Mankato, MN. She is now gathered with all the Saints of heaven in the loving arms of her Lord Jesus Christ. She is famed founder of Ginny May Donuts, along with her loving husband, Duane. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, January 10, 2015 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church. A visitation will be held from 4-7 p.m., Friday, January 9, 2015 at Northview - North Mankato Mortuary, 2060 Commerce Drive, and will continue one hour prior to the service at the church. A prayer service will be held at 6:15 p.m., Friday, January 9 at Northview- North Mankato Mortuary. A rosary will be held at 9:30 a.m., Saturday, January 10 at the church. Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery. Ginny was born on May 17, 1926, in Mankato, MN, to Joseph and Mathilda "Tilly" (Biedscheid) Weingartz. She received multiple awards in 4H including the State Championship Bread Baking Award 1940, was an A student, Cheerleader, and graduated from Loyola High School in 1944. From October 1944 through June 1945 she was a teletype operator, CAF 2 in Ogden, Utah and received the Award of Emblem for Civilian Service. Virginia married D. Duane Swanson on May 8, 1948 at St. Peter and Paul's Catholic Church in Mankato, MN. Ginny loved to bake and share her creations with family and friends, sang in the choir at St. Peter and Paul's Church, playing cards and Keno. She also enjoyed baking and crocheting and donating those items to charities. Ginny is survived by her loving husband D. Duane Swanson; children, Cheryl (Greg) Marks, Stephen (Tammy) Swanson, Francie (Jerry) Drake, Kevin (Jody) Swanson, Dale (Brandy) Swanson, Patricia Swanson, and Brian (Keisha) Swanson; grandchildren, Paul (Janelle) Marks, Jennifer (Bj) Wallingford, Kate (Sam) Holton, Jon Marks, Tom (Melissa) Swanson, Dawn (Emmett) Nelson, Rob (Paige) Swanson, Chris (Laurie) Drake, Cory (Heidi) Drake, April (Chris) Stover, Matthew (Sheila) Swanson, Andrew (Francisco Castro ) Swanson, Jared (Julie) Swanson, Jeremy (Laura) Swanson, Joshua Swanson, David Miller, Cynthia Miller, Scott (Jenna) Miller, Theresa (Darren Wels) Miller, Daniel Miller, Keith (Amanda) Swanson, Alex (Amanda) Swanson, Carl (Becca) Swanson; many great-grandchildren; Sister, JoAnn (Wayne) Cordle of Manly Iowa, brother-in-law Jerry Elfert, Sister in-law Irene Weingartz; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Louis (Catherine) Weingartz, Raymond (Irene) Weingartz, Jimmy Weingartz, and Robert Weingartz; sisters, Marie (Roman) Pyzick, Anna (Bill) Friedrichs, Viola Elfert, and Sally (Paul) Friedrichs,; grandson, Michael Swanson; great-grandson, Damien Holton.