Virginia Dixon

Virginia Dixon, 83, of Fargo, died Friday, September 12, 2008, under the care of Hospice of the Red River Valley. She was born January 24, 1925, in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, the daughter of Ernest and Esther (Malm) Jordahl of Lake Park, Minnesota, where she grew up and graduated Valedictorian of her high school class. She graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1947, and was employed as a social worker in Yellow Medicine County, Minnesota, before she married Bob Slater of Aberdeen, South Dakota. Virginia and Bob made their home in Aberdeen, until Bob was killed in an automobile accident in 1955. Bob and Virginia had two children, Stephen and Sue Ellen. The family moved to Moorhead, Minnesota, in 1956, where Virginia was employed by Children’s Village as a counselor, was active in the Moorhead Chapter of the American University Women, Proseque Study Club and organized the University Investment Club. Through mutual friends, Virginia met Jim Dixon of Fargo, North Dakota, and married in 1959. They moved to Fargo and made their life-long home too near the Red River, for they lived through seven different floods before being able to sell their home to FEMA and move to higher ground. Virginia was active in the First United Methodist Church and served as President of the United Methodist Women. She also served on the Board of the Fargo YWCA for many years and supported the FM Opera Club by serving on its board. She loved to play bridge and bowl with her many women friends as a member of the Fargo Fine Arts Club and the Fargo Country Club. Virginia was a completely unselfish person, who dedicated her life to her husband and children and to the organizations mentioned above. She particularly enjoyed her membership in Chapter E in the P.E.O. Sisterhood and had strong bonds with the women in her Chapter. Virginia and Jim had many winter trips in their motor home, pausing to visit friends in warmer climates. They loved to travel together and had many trips including several to Europe and South Africa and attended several Olympic Games. The family also spent their summers, since 1959, at the family home on Lake Melissa. Recently, Virginia and Jim spent winters at the Waterford Retirement Home, until last spring when Virginia came under the care of Hospice at the Home Sweet Home Elder Care residence of Don and Gloria Fornes in Fargo. Jim adopted Stephen and Sue Ellen in 1959. Jim and Virginia had two children, Jed and Melissa, who live with their families in Fargo. Stephen lives in Black Butte Ranch, OR, with his wife, Carol. They have two children, Sydney (Nick Wood) and Slater. Sue lives in Minneapolis, MN, with her husband, Jon Wasserburger and they have two sons, Max and Alex. Jed has two daughters, Jordyn and Brittany. Melissa and her husband, Jim Armfield, reside in Fargo, ND. Melissa has two children, Chase and Chelsea Raymond. Virginia’s sister, Rachel (Larry) Munzenmeier lives in Houston, TX. Virginia is survived by her husband; her four children; eight grand-children; and her sister. She was preceded in death by her parents and two brothers. The family wishes to express grateful thanks to Hospice and the personnel that called on Virginia daily during her time of need. Special thanks to Don and Gloria Fornes, Nancy Messerschmidt and Deb Needham. Memorials are requested to Hospice of the Red River Valley and to the First United Methodist Church of Fargo. Memorial Service: Saturday, September 27, 2008, at 2:00 PM, at First United Methodist Church, Fargo, ND.