DOLORES MELLAND

Dolores L. Melland, 86 of rural Hampden, ND passed away early Tuesday morning, June 5, 2012 at Sanford Health in Fargo, ND with her beloved family at her side. Funeral Services for Dolores will be held on Saturday, June 9, 2012 at 10:30 a.m. at Trinity-Bergen Lutheran Church, Starkweather, ND with Rev. Robert Buechler officiating. Burial will be in the Loma Cemetery. Visitation will be held at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake on Friday from 6:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. with a Time of Remembrance and Sharing at 7:00 p.m. Visitation on Saturday will be at the church one hour prior to the funeral service. Serving as Casket Bearers for Dolores will be her nephews Bob Harpestad, Rick Harpestad, Ted Dahl, Keith Dahl, Jim Kjos, Jay Kjos, Terry Lundquist and Loren Lundquist. Music will be provided by Sue Dahl, soloist and Cathy Jacobson, organist. Dolores Lucille, daughter of Theodore and Mary (Ratzlaff) Kjos was born on December 21, 1925 at the family home in Loma, ND. Loma is where Dolores grew up and received her elementary education, then graduated from Langdon High School. She went on to college and received her Teaching Certificate from Minot Teacher’s College. Dolores taught for 9 years in a one-room school at Overly, ND. Dolores met Melvin at a dance in Loma and their courtship consisted of many letters to each other. Dolores and Melvin Gordon Melland were united in marriage on October 27, 1948 at Zion Lutheran Church in Loma. They established their home on the farm, rural Loma where they farmed and raised their family. Dolores also drove the Langdon School bus for over 20 years. Melvin passed away on April 29, 1999. After Melvin’s death, Dolores moved to Hampden where she made her home until her death. Dolores was never idle. She was a talented seamstress and sewed clothes for her children and others. She was the go to person for cake decorating for many years and decorated the cakes for many a bride and groom in the Loma area. She enjoyed a number of different craft projects along with crocheting and knitting, gardening and canning the produce and sharing all of these creations with family and friends. Dolores’ hands were never idle as she also found time to play piano and the accordion. Dolores made it her priority to never send the grandchildren home empty handed. Dolores was a baptized and confirmed member of the Zion Lutheran Church of Loma and later a member of Faith Lutheran Church at Hampden and Trinity-Bergen Lutheran Church in Starkweather. She was always very active in the community and belonged to the area Homemaker’s Clubs and other women’s groups in the community and the church. Dolores also served on the Billings Township Board for many years. Dolores was first and foremost a devoted wife, mother and grandmother and her legacy of love and selflessness will be with us and all those who knew her forever. Dolores is survived by her daughters and sons-in-law, Deanna and David Paulson of Fargo, Marilyn and Rick Lervik also of Fargo and Lori and Lynn Brudevold of Velva, ND; ten grandchildren, Bart Blessum, Kaleigh Blessum, Adam (Kailee) Blessum, Zachary (Leah) Paulson, Nicholas Paulson and Caleb Paulson-Holly (Rob) Green and Amber Lervik-Taylor Brudevold and Mason Brudevold; four great grandchildren, Ayden Blessum, Isabella Paulson, Ezekiahl Paulson and Leo Green; sisters, Creola Lundquist, Hampden, ND and Joyce Dahl of Loma; sisters-in-law, Dorothy Harpestad, Hampden, Dorothy Kjos Osnabrock, ND and Loretta Gjesdal, Langdon, ND and many nieces and nephews. Dolores was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Melvin; son, Wayne and brother Lance Kjos.