Melba Montonye

Melba Montonye, age 101 of Wheaton, Minnesota passed away Monday, September 24, 2018 at the Grace Home in Graceville, Minnesota, where she resided for the past seven years.

Funeral services will be held Friday, September 28, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. at the Bethlehem Covenant Church in Wheaton with Pastor Tim Shekleton officiating. Organist will be Dianne Montonye with special music by Jere Solvie.

Interment will be in Wildwood Cemetery, Wheaton. Pallbearers will be her grandsons: Matthew Montonye, Daniel Montonye, Jason Montonye, Randy Montonye, Steven Montonye, Michael Montonye, Brian Seifert, and Andrew Seifert. Honorary Pallbearers will be all her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and wonderful caretakers at the Grace Home.

Visitation will be held one hour prior to service time at the church.

Melba was born December 23, 1916 at the homestead farm near Big Sandy, Montana, the daughter of Leo and Gena Larson. At age six her family moved back to Turtle Mountain farm north of Bottineau, North Dakota. She attended country school through the eighth grade and graduated from Bottineau High School. She then attended Trinity School of Nursing in Minot, North Dakota. In 1939 she accepted her first nursing position at Holy Trinity Hospital in Graceville, MN where she met and married Royce Montonye on February 1, 1941. Melba continued nursing at Holy Trinity while Royce served in the US army during WWII from 1942-1945. After Royce's discharge from the army, they farmed west of Collis, MN from 1946-1980. Melba went back to nursing at Wheaton Community Hospital from 1961-1974. Royce and Melba retired from farming and moved into Wheaton where she lived until entering Grace Home in 2011.

Melba was an active member of the First Presbyterian Church in Wheaton until it closed in 2015, serving as a deacon and secretary of the Presbyterian Women's Association. She also was an active member of the Dumont and Wheaton American Legion Auxiliaries for almost 50 years. Her greatest love was taking care of her family and loved ones which included just about everyone she met. Her strong Christian faith shown brightly in her sweet, gentle, humble, caring, and serving heart towards everyone.

Melba survived by her three sons: David (Sylvia) Montonye of Olympia, WA; Ronald (Dianne) Montonye of Barton, ND; and Donald (Janice) Montonye of Dumont, MN; one daughter: Marilyn (Marc) Seifert of Worthington, MN; eleven grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; fourteen great-grandchildren; brothers: Merle (Deloris) Larson of Siloam Springs, AR; Floyd (Bonnie) Larson of Lenexa, KS; sisters: Lois Ydstie of Edinburg, ND; Eunice Lovaas of Bella Vista, AR; and Evelyn Olson of Bottineau, ND; sister-in-law Mary Montonye of Morris, MN; and many nieces and nephews.

Melba was preceded in death by her parents, husband Royce, brothers Ledolph and George, and sister Grace.