Virginia (Childs) Longballa, age 93, formerly of Grand Rapids, Minnesota, passed away Friday, October 4, 2024, in Venice, Florida.

Virginia was born on February 28, 1931, to Ray and Marion Childs in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, the sixth of eleven children. She met the love of her life, Morrie Longballa, in 1946, shortly after he returned from World War II, and they were married in September 1947.  They had two daughers, as well as the three sons Morrie had from his previous marriage. She and Morrie raised their daughters in Minneapolis, after which they moved permanently to Malmo, on Mille Lacs Lake in 1970.

It was at this time she became known to many as the "Blonde Tornado" due to constantly being on the go.  She loved to bake and entertain guests; Virginia felt one of her God-given gifts was the gift of hospitality, and she loved having a full dinner table. Several times a week she hosted dinners in her home, sometimes with people she barely knew, so she could get to know them better. She was famous for her legendary cinnamon rolls, and to a smaller but equally passionate crowd, her egg custard.  A frequent soloist in church, Virginia had an incredible gift for music, constantly singing God's praises, and could play by ear on the piano virtually anything she heard. She served many times as chair of her local Christian Women's Club (CWC) as well as being involved in her church's Women's Missionary Society (WMS). Her memory was incredibly sharp and detailed, which she retained up until the very end, and her grandchildren enjoyed being regaled with stories of the past.  Most importantly, she was a love-filled, giving woman who touched the lives of many with her generosity, always striving to be the hands of Jesus on earth. After Morrie passed away in January 2001, she moved to Grand Rapids, and beginning in 2004 split her time between Grand Rapids and Florida.

She was preceded in death by her husband Morrie, her step-son Chris and her daughter-in-law Darlene; she is survived by her daughters, Maureen (Bobby) and Kathleen (Neil), her step-sons Gary and Howard (Karen), daughter-in-law Sherry, her sister Carol and brother David, along with 8 grandchildren (Amy, John, Kent, Michael, Scott, Ken, Peter and Joshua) 8 great-grandchildren (Storm, Mallory, Cedar, Nya, Soren, Lilith, Julie, and Garrett) and many nieces and nephews, along with other relatives and friends. She will be buried in Oakley Cemetery, Little Fork, Minnesota, beside her beloved Morrie.

A visitation will be held Saturday, November 16, 2024, at 11:00 AM at First Church of God, Grand Rapids, MN with a memorial service to follow at 12:00 Noon. Interment will be at Oakley Cemetery, Littlefork, MN.

Memorials in Virginia's memory may be directed to:

First Church of God, 609 NW 4th Ave., Grand Rapids, MN 55744

Malmo Evangelical Free Church, 21927 322nd Ave., Isle, MN 56342