Mary Jane "Midge" Kumsha

Mary Jane “Midge” Kumsha died July 5, 2022. She was born on February 11, 1928 to Mary and

J. George Wilde in Virginia, MN. She married Melhior Kumsha on August 18, 1951. They raised

two daughters, Marsha and Susan in Duluth.

Midge earned a Bachelor’s Degree from the College of St. Scholastica and a Master’s Degree in

Library Science from the University of Minnesota, where she was admitted to the Beta Phi Mu

honor society

Midge worked as the Director of Libraries at the College of St. Scholastica (CSS), supervising

the building of a new library and teaching classes in Library Science. She retired from CSS in

1987 as Associate Professor and Faculty Emeritus. She also started Summak Publishing

Company where she published and marketed Mel’s book “An Art Project Guide Book”.

She was a past president of the Soroptimist Club, American Legion Auxiliary 0342 and a former

board member of the Children’s Museum. She volunteered at SMDC’s library for over 20 years.

Midge and her good friend, Karen Vavra, co-owned a children’s clothing shop, The Plaid Panda,

until 1991.

Midge is preceded in death by her husband Melhior in 1984, her daughter Susan Kumsha Bodin

in 2004, her brothers George, William, James and her sister Frances Gunderson (Allen). She is

survived by her daughter Marsha Kumsha Holey (Douglas), granddaughters: Katherine Holey

Asuncsion (Ryan), Elizabeth Bodin and Laura Holey Oakden (Joshua), great-grandchildren

Noelle, Luke, Edison and Maxwell, and nieces and nephews.

Private burial will be held on August 20, 2022. A Celebration of Life reception will follow at

12:00 at Dougherty Funeral Home, 600 East Second Street, Duluth, MN 55805.

If desired, memorials may be made to the Susan Kumsha Bodin Scholarship Fund, Academy of

Nutrition and Dietetics, PO Box 19160, Minneapolis, MN 55419.