Erma Mary Linkfield Summers Nielsen Rodgers, 100, of Ludington, passed away Wednesday, November 21, 2018, at Munson Healthcare Manistee Hospital.  She was born September 18, 1918, in Ada, Michigan, the daughter of Arthur and Mary (Lamphere) Linkfield.

Family, Friends, Church, and Dancing were very important to Erma and kept her healthy and happy these past 100 years.  Erma loved entertaining her family.

Erma was raised on the family farm in Ada  When she was 3 her dad built a dance hall above their store where Erma fell in love with dancing. She was affectionately known to many as "The Polka Lady".

When Erma was in ninth grade she quit school to work on the family farm.  A hard worker, Erma held several different jobs throughout her life, including managing dinners at the YMCA, in Grand Rapids, where she served Gerald Ford.  In 1957, Erma moved to Ludington where she worked as the dining room manager at Stearns Hotel and a clerk at Barnett's Grocery Store.  Erma also managed the Sunglow Motel on US 10 for 20  years.

Erma was a very active member of the United Methodist Church of Ludington, since 1957 where she served as a kitchen manager, earning her the nickname "The Coffee Lady".  She was also the bridal events coordinator, and an active member of the women's ministries.

Over the years, Erma collected Santa Claus figurines, growing her collection to over 260 figurines.

Erma is survived by: 3 children, Judianne Sibley, Greg (Susie Copenhaver) Summers and Penny Yost; her daughter-in-law, Sandra Summers; 9 grandchildren, Christy (Ken) VanDyke, Pam (Scott) Port, Suzanne (John) Jurkowski, Tammy (Wiley) Boulding, Jim (Jodi) Sibley, Mary (Joey) Hartwig, Golda (Josh Soper) Summers, Gary (Marilyn) Yost and Scott (Heather) Yost; 14 great-grandchildren, Kevin VanDyke, Jacob (Katie) VanDyke, Stephanie (Cody) Dykstra, Megan Port, Beau Port, Elyana Jurkowski, Ceara Sibley, Blaise Boulding, Piper Hartwig, Audrey Soper, Daniel (Kelly) Yost, Nathan Yost, Benjamin Yost and Natalie Yost; and 1 great-great-grandson, Grayson VanDyke.

Erma was preceded in death by: her parents, husbands, Orville A. Summers, Don Nielsen and John Rodgers; her son, Larry Summers; and her siblings, Churchill Linkfield, Esther Hazlett, Fannie Thomet and Hubert Linkfield.

Memorial services will be held at 1:00 PM, Saturday, December 8, 2018, at the United Methodist Church of Ludington, with Pastor Dennis Bromley officiating.  The family will receive friends Saturday from 12:00 PM until time of services at the church.

Memorial contributions may be made to the United Methodist Church of Ludington, the American Legion Post #76 or Hospice of Michigan.

Beacon Cremation & Funeral Service is in charge of arrangements.

www.beaconfh.com