Middle River - Rosanna Melby, 79, died on Wednesday, January 14, 1998 at the home of her daughter at Ivanhoe.
Funeral services were held on Monday, January, 19 at 2 p.m. at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Middle River with Father Bob Schreiner and Reverend Arlen Lloyd officiating. Mitch Walski was the organist, and vocal music was provided by Lois Anderson, Lois Peterson and Barb Geer. Casketbearers were Loren Lusignan, Robert Melby, Joe Melby, Duane Melby, Jerry Cwikla and Kenny Cwikla. Interment was at Bethel Lutheran Cemetery in Greenbush. Arrangements were with the Collins Funeral Home of Middle River.
Rosanna Marie Lusignan was born on December 8, 1918 in Caribou township of Kittson County near Lancaster, the daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Mandeville) Lusignan. She attended school and grew to womanhood there and was baptized and confirmed in the Catholic faith.
On January 13, 1942 Rosanna was united in marriage to William Melby at Vancouver, WA. The couple resided there until 1945 when they moved to a farm east of Greenbush. In 1953 they moved to a farm near Thief River Falls and the following spring to the present farm near Middle River. She earned her GED in the 1970's. William died on November 6, 1991 and Rosanna continued to make her home on the farm. For the past month she had been visiting her daugher Mercedes and family at Ivanhoe.
Rosanna attended Our Savior's Lutheran Church of Thief Lake near her home and was active in Ladies Aid there. She was a member of the Middle River American Legion Auxiliary.
Rosanna is survived by four sons, Dennis of Mogadore, OH; John and Elmer, both of Middle River, and Robin of Rootstown, OH; one daughter, Mercedes (Luke) Hagen of Ivanhoe; ten grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; three brothers, Elmo (Adeline) Lusignan of Thief River Falls, Zefere (Doreen) Lusignan of Shakopee and Clifford Lusignan of Kansas; one sister, Bernadette "Barney" (Richard) Vick of Clovis, NM; and several nieces, nephews and other relatives.
She was preceded in death by her husband; parents; one grandson, Eric; and two sisters, her twin Rosella and Georgina.