Alice Melby

Alice Elizabeth (Eastvold) Melby was born on October 18, 1919, in Mayville, North Dakota, the daughter of Olaus Arnt and Mabel (Gramstad) Eastvold. She graduated from Mayville High School, attended Lutheran Bible Institute in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and received her BA Degree from Mayville State Teachers College. Alice married Pastor Harold Waldemar Melby on August 31, 1945, in Mayville Lutheran Church, Mayville, North Dakota.

Immediately prior to her marriage to Harold, Alice served as Secretary to Bishop Oscar C. Hanson (father of current Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Bishop Mark S. Hanson) in the Luther League office at the Norwegian Lutheran Church headquarters in Minneapolis.

During her marriage, Alice served with Pastor Melby in 23 Lutheran Church congregations, residing in the communities of Melville and Swift Current, Saskatchewan, Canada; Mt. Vernon, South Dakota; Clarissa, Dell, Frost and Hendricks, Minnesota; and Verona, North Dakota. In addition to her service as a Pastor's wife, Alice performed many roles in the congregations served, including those of church secretary, choir director, organist, pianist, Sunday School teacher, as well as participant and leader of various church groups.

During her teaching career, Alice taught Music, English, Business and Business Law, Home Economics, served as Band Director and directed numerous theatrical productions. She taught in the communities of Plentywood, Montana; Bloomington, Edgerton, Clarissa, Frost, Minneota and Hendricks, Minnesota.

Alice and Harold retired to their home on Girard Beach, West Battle Lake, Minnesota, in September 1982. For 25 years they spent their winters in Apache Junction, Arizona. During her retirement, Alice enjoyed many activities, including pen and ink artwork, reading, walking, sewing, cooking, painting beautiful china plates, playing cards, and monthly soundly defeating many relatives and friends in Reader's Digest Word Power games.

On Sunday, June 9, 2013, Alice Melby died at Battle Lake Good Samaritan Nursing Home. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be given, and suggests the following: Lutheran World Relief, Battle Lake Good Samaritan Society, First Lutheran Building Fund, and Mount Carmel Ministries. Memorials may be offered at Glende Nilson funeral home or sent c/o Marilyn Horgen, 40450 Girard Beach Road, Battle Lake, MN 56515.

Alice is survived by three daughters, Marilyn Beth (Wayne) Horgen of Battle Lake, Naomi Joy (David) Talbott of Edgewater, Maryland and Donadee Joan (Rev. Timothy) Peterson of Prescott, Wisconsin; one son, Dr. David John (Elaine) Melby of Carterville, Illinois; fifteen grandchildren, Benjamin Melby, Christopher (Thuy), Clayton, Lindsay (Christi), and Andrew (Tyler) Horgen, Katie (DaWayne) Medley, Kristin Solomon, Kelly, Baruch, John, Princess and Benjamin Talbott, Nathan (Maria), John (Whitney), and Elise Peterson; fifteen great-grandchildren, and by numerous relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, Rev. Harold Melby, one son in infancy, Brent Nathan Melby; two brothers, Orlo and Alvin Eastvold; and four sisters, Mae Cella, Lillian Huseby, Helen Carlson, and Faith Shelchuk.

Funeral Service will be 11 am Wednesday, June 12th at the First Lutheran Church in Battle Lake with Rev. Jake Dyrhaug officiating. Visitation will be Tuesday from 4 to 7 pm with a service of prayer and celebration at 6:00 pm at the Glende-Nilson Funeral Home in Battle Lake and one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be in the First Lutheran Cemetery in Battle Lake. The Glende-Nilson Funeral Home of Battle Lake is in charge of the arrangements for Alice Melby.