Lawrence
Melvie, 69Oklee &endash; Lawrence Melvie, 69, died Thursday, July 3, l997 at his home in Oklee after an extended illness.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Sunday, July 6 at Zion Lutheran Church in Oklee with Reverend Robert Paulson, officiating. Marian Marquis was the organist. Donna Sher- man and LaVonne Enereson sang a vocal duet. Another duet was sang by Virgil and Marville Hjelle. Casketbearers were Dick Halvorson, Don Stenberg, Jerry Krohn, Gene Halvorson, Ronald Engen and Dale Nelson. Honorary casketbearers were all of Lawrence's friends. Military honors were by the Baudette VFW and American Legion Posts. Burial was at Elm Park Cemetery in Baudette at 11 a.m. Monday, July 7. The Green Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.
Lawrence Melvie was born at home August 15, 1927 in Viking township, Marshall County the son of Tobias and Olga (Haaseth) Melvie. He attended Viking School and Edgewood School in New Solum township. He served in the United States Army Air Force from April 27, 1946 to September 30, 1947. Lawrence was assigned to Kimpo Army Air Force Base in Seoul, Korea, where he helped build roads and airstrips. Following his discharge, he worked in the Twin Cities for two years. On August 27, l952, Lawrence was united in marriage to Avis Eileen Nelson in Roseau. The couple returned to the Melvie farm following the death of Lawrences's father in 1953.
Lawrence began his career as a grain elevator manager in Viking in l956. In l968, he moved to Baudette were he managed the Northern Co-op Exchange in Baudette and Williams. In l981, he moved to Oklee where he managed the Oklee Farmer's Co-op Elevator until retiring in l989.
He served as a member of the Viking School Board, the Viking city council and the Oklee city council. Lawrence was a life member of the VFW and American Legion in Baudette, Moose Lodge of Baudette and the Lion's Club of Oklee.
He enjoyed fishing, wood working, hunting, field watching, bowling and spending time with family and friends.
He is survived by his wife, Avis of Oklee; eight children, Shar Ray (Keith) Palm of Baudette, Kathleen (Chuck) Tischart of Baudette, Patricia (Michael) Ellis of Woodenville, WA, Virginia of St. Louis Park, Pamela of Baudette, Loren (Roxann) of Bismarck, ND, Arlyn (Wanda) of Warroad and Deanna (Jeff) Stenberg of Oklee; 17 grandchildren; one brother, Pastor Lloyd (Sharon) of Pennock; seven sisters, Helen Engelstad of Crystal, Ruth (Rodger) Sackett of Thief River Falls, Margaret Peterson of Titusville, FL, Arlene (J. Earle) Nord of Buffalo, Lorraine (Russell) Anderson of Denver, CO, Doris (Rev. Rodney) Anderson of Ft. Atkinson, WI and Claudia (Dr. Leif) Hartmark of Oneonta, NY; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Arnold.