Irene C. Melius

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Irene C. Melius, 91, of Faulkton, passed away Saturday, January 7, 2017 at the Faulkton Senior Living Center with her beloved husband by her side.

Celebration of Irene’s Life was held from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., Monday, January 16, 2017 at Luce Funeral Home, Faulkton with a lunch to follow at the United Church of Faulkton. Private burial took place at the Faulkton Cemetery.

Irene Charlotte Haselhorst was born on December 9, 1925 to Edwin and Charlotte (Freitag) Haselhorst. Irene and her sister Dorothy attended elementary at Millard Country School by horse and buggy. Irene graduated high school in 1943 from Faulkton. After graduation she went out to San Francisco, CA to work as a file clerk for a short period of time. On September 14, 1949 she married the love of her life Orvil Melius at the Walt and Dorothy (Haselhorst) Olson farm stead. They lived at the old Keller place, Lilas Riley’s farm, for a couple years until moving to their farm, west of Wecota, where they worked until September of 2004 when they moved into Faulkton.

In Irene’s early years she spent days working right alongside of Orvil, milking cows, tending to the chickens and helping in the field. Irene would spend hours tending to her garden and many potted flowers. Her garden was as beautiful as she was and had every color possible in it. When she was not able to be outside with her flowers, she crocheted countless blankets with just as bright of colors as her garden. Irene had a collection of blown glass pieces and ceramic horses that were always on display.

Whole family pheasant hunts and apple juice making was some important family time Irene enjoyed. Whether washing every apple or making large meals for everyone after hunting, she never complained. Working hard was the standard and Irene never fell short a day in her life.

She was baptized as a Jehovah witness on April 4, 1970 and was a devoted witness all her days.

Blessed for having shared her life are her husband, Orvil of 67 years; 3 children: Marilee (Ray) Patton, Susan Melius, and Diane (Lee) Hansen; four grandchildren: Michael Patton, Matthew (Haley) Patton, Rick (Ashley) Hansen, and Trish (Cole) Cotton; and five great-grandchildren: Blake, Evan, and Heidi Hansen, Raya and Harper Cotton.

Irene was preceded in death by her parents; sister Dorothy; and grandchild, Cody Hansen.

Luce Funeral Home of Faulkton has been entrusted with Irene’s arrangements.