Helen Melbostad passed away July 1, 2020, surrounded by her family at her daughter’s home.
Helen Dorothy Lane was born April 21, 1927, at home in rural Winneshiek County, Iowa, to Reinhard and Alvina (Auna) Lane.
She was baptized and confirmed at Highland Lutheran Church.
Helen attended rural school at the Kjome School located in Highland Township of Winneshiek County, Iowa, and she later graduated as an honor student in 1945 from Spring Grove Public High School.
She was united in marriage to Jerry Melbostad on June 8, 1947, at Highland Lutheran Church. He died on June 16, 2001. They farmed the Melbostad family farm in rural Spring Grove for many years until moving to Spring Grove in 1962. They have nine children.
She was a longtime member of Trinity Lutheran Church, she enjoyed participating in the Esther Circle and Altar Guild; a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, and Red Hats Society.
She worked for numerous businesses and eventually retired in 2001 at age 74 from Tweeten Memorial Hospital, known as Gundersen Tweeten Healthcare.
Helen especially treasured spending time with her large family, and she also enjoyed dancing, traveling, gardening, knitting, word search, and was an avid reader. She also enjoyed a good hot cup of coffee and a homemade treat with family and friends.
Helen is survived by her nine children: Duane (Mary) Melbostad, Winona, Minn., Diane (Gary) Otterness, Spring Grove, Minn., Dean (Betty) Melbostad, Hermantown, Minn., Debra Spence, Spring Grove, Minn., Doris (Kim) Sherburne, Spring Grove, Minn., David (Kathy) Melbostad, La Crescent, Minn., Daryl (Cindy) Melbostad, Spring Grove, Minn., Donna (Brian) Karlsbroten, Houston, Minn., and Danny (Taresa) Melbostad, Rochester, Minn. She is also survived by 19 grandchildren, and several great-grandchildren, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and their extended families.
Helen was preceded in death by her husband Jerry, her parents Reinhard and Alvina Lane, her sisters Bernice Myhre, Evelyn Valdez, and Lila Mahr; her brothers Leonard Lane and Ralph Lane, sisters-in-law Thelma O. Lane and Irene Tollefsrud, brothers-in-law Knut Myhre and Alvin Myhre, Arnold Paananen and Joe Valdez, Raymond Mahr and Gilman Tollefsrud; and son-in-law John Spence.
Funeral services were held Tuesday, July 7 at the Spring Grove Fest Building, at 1:30 p.m., with Pastor Lane Zaffke officiating. Burial took place in Trinity Church Cemetery. Friends called on Tuesday from 12:30–1:30 p.m. at the Fest Building.
Roble Funeral Home of Spring Grove assisted the family with arrangements.