Helen Melton

Helen M. Melton, age 94, of Melrose and formerly of Albany, entered eternal life on Sunday, January 25, 2015 at the Pine Villa Nursing Home in Melrose, Minnesota.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, January 29 at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Melrose with Pastor Fred Kutter officiating. Burial will be at Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery in Farming Township, Rural Albany, MN.

Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home in Melrose.

Helen Margaret Lenser was born August 31, 1920 to August and Alvina (Eberling) Lenser. She was baptized on October 10, 1920 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Dixon, SD by the Rev. Paul G. Weinhold. In 1933 her family moved to Keya Paha, SD where she worked with her parents until 1940. On August 27, 1942, she was united in marriage to Duane Francis Melton at Zion Lutheran Church in Valentine, NE. They celebrated 58 years in this union. They had two children, Larry Duane Melton and Karen Rose Melton (Rohde). In 1960 they moved to Melrose where they farmed and worked.

Helen and Duane were blessed with four beautiful grandchildren, Renee Rohde, Forrest Melton, Jay Rohde, and Vanessa Larson (Melton). They were further blessed with five fantastic great-grandchildren, triplets, Austin, Brianna, and Carter Melton born to Forrest and Judy Melton, and Riley and Ella Larson born to Doug and Vanessa Larson.

Helen is survived by her son, Larry (Roxanna) Melton of Avon; daughter, Karen Rohde of Otsego; four grandchildren, Renee Rohde of Elk River, Forrest (Judy) Melton of Albany, Jay Rohde of Coon Rapids, Vanessa (Doug) Larson of Glenwood; five great-grandchildren, Austin, Brianna, and Carter Melton, and Riley and Ella Larson; three great friends, Don Schmid, Rosie Ostendorf, Regina Mueller; and many other friends.

Helen is preceded in death by her husband, Duane on September 14, 2000; parents, August and Alvina Lenser; five brothers, Walter, Paul, Charlie, Ernest, and Rhinehart Lenser; four sisters, Lena Singleman, Hattie Crotty, Adeline Zylstra, and Martha Grandsinger.

Helen worked many of her years at Kraft Foods in Melrose until her retirement in 1983. Helen was a member of the Melrose Schanhaar-Otte VFW Post 7050 Auxiliary. Her favorite things in life were cooking, canning, baking, gardening, and her flower beds on the farm where she planted over 300 gladiola bulbs, roses, and begonias. Her favorite rose was Imperial. She loved fishing, sewing, embroidering, quilting, dancing, playing cards, and Bingo. In her younger days, Helen would race stock cars in the Ladies' Powder Puff. Helen's favorite car to drive was a light blue Ford No. 26.

The family would like to thank the Pine Villa Nursing Home and staff, Melrose Hospital, and Dr. Heller for their dedicated service to Helen. There are no words to express the care, love, and compassion they gave Helen and her family. Also thank you to all the friends who made Helen's life so beautiful. Thanks for all the flowers, cards, prayers, and comforting comments, and to Patton-Schad Funeral Home. God Bless You All, the family of Helen Melton.

Serving as casket bearers will be Forrest Melton, Jay Rohde, Austin Melton, Brianna Melton, Carter Melton, Doug Larson, Riley Larson, Ella Larson, and Keith Ebrel. Honorary bearer will be Don Schmid.