1919
Rev.
2012
Rev. Harold Melby
September 22, 1919 — March 26, 2012
Rev. Harold Melby, 92, of Battle Lake, MN died Monday, March 26, 2012 at the Lake Region Hospital in Fergus Falls following a heart attack on March 24.
Harold Waldemar Melby was born on September 22, 1919, in Beaubier, Saskatchewan, the son of Dahl and Elise (Hanson) Melby. He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran Church. He graduated from Birch Hills High School and the Lutheran Seminary in Saskatoon. He was ordained a pastor of the Norwegian Lutheran Church in August 1945.
Harold married Alice Elizabeth Eastvold on August 31, 1945 in the Mayville Lutheran Church, Mayville, North Dakota.
Harold served as pastor of 23 congregations: Atwater, Zion, Spy Hill, Birmingham, and Cana while living in Melville, Saskatchewan; Highland, Neidpath, Antelope Creek, Swift Current, Rolling Prairie, Chaplin, and one other congregation, while living in Swift Current, Saskatchewan; Salem, Victor, and Emmanuel, while living in Mount Vernon, South Dakota; Our Savior's and Zion, while living in Clarissa, Minnesota; United and Dell, while living in Frost, Minnesota; First and Singsaas, while living in Hendricks, Minnesota; St. John's and Good Shepherd, while living in Verona, North Dakota.
Harold and Alice retired to their home on Girard Beach, West Battle Lake, in September 1982. For 25 years they spent their winters in Apache Junction, Arizona. Harold enjoyed reading and was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting, fishing and hiking in the mountains. He hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon 5 times.
As a pastor, Harold had a special emphasis on youth ministry with extensive involvement in parish, camp and community activities. He was active in Boy Scouts, serving as a Scout Master for a total of 25 years in multiple communities in which he served as pastor. He enjoyed preaching and counseling. He served 6 years on the Board of Directors of Lutheran Social Services of Minnesota. In retirement, he saw himself as continuing his pastoral ministry with a desire to encourage the people around him. He enjoyed singing solos in Church and often sang at worship at the Good Samaritan Home in Battle Lake.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be given, and suggests the following: the First Lutheran Building Fund, Mount Carmel Ministries in Alexandria, and the Battle Lake Good Samaritan Society.
Harold is survived by his wife, Alice; 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; fourteen great-grandchildren and by numerous relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by one son in infancy, Brent Nathan Melby; two sisters, Anna Hanson and Elsie Folstad; and by four brothers, Elvin, Daniel, Victor and Palmer Melby.
Funeral Service: 11 am Friday, March 30, 2012 at the First Lutheran Church in Battle Lake
Visitation: Thursday from 4 to 7 pm with a Service of Prayer and Celebration at 6:30 pm at the Glende-Nilson Funeral Home and visitation one hour prior to the service at the church.
Clergy: Rev. Jake Dyrhaug
Interment: First Lutheran Cemetery in Battle Lake
Funeral Home: Glende-Nilson of Battle Lake.
Condolences:www.glendenilson.com
Harold Waldemar Melby was born on September 22, 1919, in Beaubier, Saskatchewan, the son of Dahl and Elise (Hanson) Melby. He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran Church. He graduated from Birch Hills High School and the Lutheran Seminary in Saskatoon. He was ordained a pastor of the Norwegian Lutheran Church in August 1945.
Harold married Alice Elizabeth Eastvold on August 31, 1945 in the Mayville Lutheran Church, Mayville, North Dakota.
Harold served as pastor of 23 congregations: Atwater, Zion, Spy Hill, Birmingham, and Cana while living in Melville, Saskatchewan; Highland, Neidpath, Antelope Creek, Swift Current, Rolling Prairie, Chaplin, and one other congregation, while living in Swift Current, Saskatchewan; Salem, Victor, and Emmanuel, while living in Mount Vernon, South Dakota; Our Savior's and Zion, while living in Clarissa, Minnesota; United and Dell, while living in Frost, Minnesota; First and Singsaas, while living in Hendricks, Minnesota; St. John's and Good Shepherd, while living in Verona, North Dakota.
Harold and Alice retired to their home on Girard Beach, West Battle Lake, in September 1982. For 25 years they spent their winters in Apache Junction, Arizona. Harold enjoyed reading and was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting, fishing and hiking in the mountains. He hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon 5 times.
As a pastor, Harold had a special emphasis on youth ministry with extensive involvement in parish, camp and community activities. He was active in Boy Scouts, serving as a Scout Master for a total of 25 years in multiple communities in which he served as pastor. He enjoyed preaching and counseling. He served 6 years on the Board of Directors of Lutheran Social Services of Minnesota. In retirement, he saw himself as continuing his pastoral ministry with a desire to encourage the people around him. He enjoyed singing solos in Church and often sang at worship at the Good Samaritan Home in Battle Lake.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be given, and suggests the following: the First Lutheran Building Fund, Mount Carmel Ministries in Alexandria, and the Battle Lake Good Samaritan Society.
Harold is survived by his wife, Alice; 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; fourteen great-grandchildren and by numerous relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by one son in infancy, Brent Nathan Melby; two sisters, Anna Hanson and Elsie Folstad; and by four brothers, Elvin, Daniel, Victor and Palmer Melby.
Funeral Service: 11 am Friday, March 30, 2012 at the First Lutheran Church in Battle Lake
Visitation: Thursday from 4 to 7 pm with a Service of Prayer and Celebration at 6:30 pm at the Glende-Nilson Funeral Home and visitation one hour prior to the service at the church.
Clergy: Rev. Jake Dyrhaug
Interment: First Lutheran Cemetery in Battle Lake
Funeral Home: Glende-Nilson of Battle Lake.
Condolences:www.glendenilson.com
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