Melba Feldhake, of Montevideo, died on Monday, September 12, 2016 at Luther Haven Nursing Home in Montevideo at the age of 93.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, October 1, 2016 at 3:00 PM at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Montevideo. Visitation with the family will be held at St. Paul Lutheran Church one hour prior to the service on October 1, 2016.
Melba (Rieppel) Feldhake was born August 7, 1923 in Appleton, MN to Fredrick and Anna (Reimers) Rieppel. They lived on a farm near Holloway where Melba was the oldest of three children. Melba graduated from Holloway High School and then attended the Agriculture School in Morris. She met Howard Feldhake at a dance at the Swift County Fair. They were married in Holloway on October 6, 1945. Melba and Howard made their home on a farm near Montevideo. Melba was a homemaker but would also assist with the farm work, even driving grain truck. When Howard died in 1975, Melba moved into Montevideo where she lived until moving to Luther Haven in July of 2015.
Melba was a member of Trinity of Havelock Church and after moving into her home in Montevideo, she was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church. She was a member of the women’s group at both churches. She enjoyed baking, sewing, embroidering, gardening and reading. She also would like to visit with friends and family. Melba's family has fond memories of her enjoying baking and saying, "Let just stir up a batch of cookies or a pan of bars". Melba also loved a spirited game of Uno with her grandchildren.
Melba is survived by her children: Barbara (Frank) Abramson of St. Louis Park, MN, Nancy Feldhake of Montevideo, MN and Debra (Jim) Bomberg of Plymouth, MN; 4 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren; a brother Sheldon “Buzz” Rieppel; brother-in-law Kenneth Boraas, sister-in-law, Jan Rieppel and other nieces, nephews and extended family.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Howard; infant sons, Thomas and Gerald and a sister, Shirley Boraas.
Melba’s family would like to thank Luther Haven Nursing Home staff for their care and compassion while Melba was a resident.