Deloris Melby

Deloris E. Melby, 84, of Dalton, died Friday, May 10, 2024 at the Pelican Valley Nursing Home in Pelican Rapids. MN.

Deloris was born on March 5, 1940 in St. Peter, MN to Leonard and Elma (Sondersen) Matson. She attended elementary school in St. Peter and graduated from Minnetonka High School in 1958. Deloris wrote, "I graduated from Minnetonka High School, graduated from Fairview Hospital School of X-ray Technology, went to Gustavus Adolphus, Mankato State, University of Minnesota, Moorhead State, and Fergus Falls Junior College; and with all that said, I never did get a degree nor did I learn to spell. Nevertheless, I've had a darn good life."

On April 20, 1963 Deloris and Luther (Si) Melby were married at Excelsior, MN. Over the years, Deloris held various jobs. Her first job was helping her dad at his neighborhood grocery store in Excelsior. Later, she worked at the sanitorium at Glen Lake and St. Peter, MN. She and Si owned a silk-screening shop for a time, and they enjoyed their farm, especially the animals. They had two incubators and did custom hatching of ducks, geese and other birds. She would turn the eggs twice a day until they hatched. She loved to watch the birds at the bird feeder and enjoyed gardening. She also was involved with the Lake Region Pioneer Threshermen's Assn.

Deloris was very artistic and has done many paintings of family members and has crafted beautiful rosemaling for others as well. She loved to sing and often sang alone or with others, at church services. While in the nursing home, she would sing in the hall, much to the enjoyment of the staff.

Si and Deloris enjoyed traveling in Si's hot rod. In 1996 they went to North Carolina and Florida and in 1998 they drove the hot rod to the West Coast. The family also made several trips around the United States, and Si and Deloris made several trips to California to visit their children. She enjoyed being with her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Deloris was a member of Zion-Sarpsborg Free Lutheran Church in Dalton. She was involved with the Ladies Aid and the Sunday School.

Preceding her in death were her parents, Leonard and Elma Matson and son-in-law Freeman Pascal.

Deloris is survived by her husband Luther (Si); children: Julie Pascal, Leif (Heidi) Melby, Sarah (Dave) Ehlers, and Marian (Garrett) Aanerud, grandchildren; Zechariah, Elijah, Naomi and Locke Pascal, Luke, Dalton and Beatrice Melby, Nate (Cat) Ehlers, Matthias (Lauren) Ehlers, and Gabriel and Johannes Aanerud, great grandchildren Nathaniel, Jude and Sylvia Ehlers. Also surviving are her sisters Charlotte and Pauline, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Service: 2:00 p.m. Friday, May 17, 2024 at Zion-Sarpsborg Free Lutheran Church in Dalton, with visitation one-hour prior to the service at the church.

Clergy: Reverend Mark Johnson

Interment: Zion Cemetery, Dalton, MN

Arrangements provided by Olson Funeral and Cremation in Fergus Falls.

Online condolences may be sent to www.olsonfuneralhome.com