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William Summers

March 5, 1931 — February 21, 2015

William Summers

William "Bill" James Summers, age 83, of Kearney, Nebraska, passed away Saturday, February 21, 2015 at St. Luke's Good Samaritan Village in Kearney, Nebraska. Funeral Services will be held Saturday, February 28, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. at the Bainbridge Funeral Home in Wheaton with Fr. Stanley Wieser officiating. Visitation will be held Saturday from noon until 2:00 p.m. at the Bainbridge Funeral Home in Wheaton. Interment will be in Wildwood Cemetery, rural Wheaton, Minnesota at a later date. Pallbearers will be Keith Janke, Jason Janke, Mitch Olson, Tyrel Olson, Bryan Kneebone, Andrew Rowland, Scotty Summers and Jacob Summers. Honorary Pallbearers will be William's granddaughters and great-grandchildren. Military Rites will be provided by the Merton Dale American Legion Post #80. Bill was born March 5, 1931 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the son of Joseph and Ursula (Davis) Summers. Bill was the oldest of five children. From high school Bill enlisted and served in the United States Air Force until he was honorably discharged on May 1, 1953. He then returned to his family in Fargo, North Dakota. It was there he met Hazel Elvira Velde, "the love of his life". He married Hazel on November 14, 1953 in Fergus Falls, Minnesota. In 1955, they moved to Hopkins, Minnesota where Bill worked for the Massey Ferguson Corporation for the next thirteen years. In 1968, they moved to Wheaton with their three children, Scott, Susan and Shannon, where he bought the Massey Ferguson Dealership from Edmund Lundquist which later became "Summers Inc.". Bill was a very dedicated businessman, He was always on call, and was available to anyone that needed him. While in Wheaton Bill and Hazel adopted two children Steve and Shari. After eighteen years in Wheaton, they moved to Bottineau, North Dakota, then to Jamestown, North Dakota in 1994 where they lived until Hazel passed away in October of 2000. Bill then moved with his son Scott and his family to Kearney, Nebraska, where he lived with them until he went into the nursing home. While Bill was in Wheaton, he was involved with many organizations: the Masons, Shriners, American Legion, School Board, Fair Board to name a few. He was also very active in the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church where he served faithfully. Bill loved to travel and was able to go on many trips through his business. He also did a lot of traveling around the United States with his family. He loved motorcycles and boats. Bill was a big Vikings fan. Anytime spent with his family he treasured! Bill is survived by five children: Scott (Rhonda) Summers of Kearney, Nebraska; Susan (Keith) Janke of Wheaton; Shannon (Mitch) Olson of Max, North Dakota; Shari Summers of Fargo, North Dakota; and Steven (Jeri) Summers of Dilworth, Minnesota; daughter-in-law Jayne Olson of Modesto, California; sister Sara Summers of Golden, Colorado; brother Tom Summers of Minneapolis, Minnesota; ten grandchildren: Stacie, Jennifer, Jessie Jacob, Scotty, Janeen, Jason, Tyrel, Kiarra, and Jordan; and two great-grandchildren: Bryleigh and Adrien. Bill was preceded in death by his wife Hazel, parents Joseph and Ursula, brother Stuart, infant brother Bernard, and step-son Kent.
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Ranney-Bainbridge Funeral Home
  • Email Details
  • 106 North 10th Street
    Wheaton, MN 56296

Funeral Service

Ranney-Bainbridge Funeral Home
  • Email Details
  • 106 North 10th Street
    Wheaton, MN 56296
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