Gene Melby

91, Harvey, formerly of

rural Manfred, passed

away Thursday, No-

vember 12, 2020, at a Far-

go hospital surrounded in

love by his sons Michael

and Arnie. Through video

calls, he was able to see

all of his family and tell

them all how much he

loves them. He passed

away due to the effects of

COVID 19.

Gene was born in 1928

on the family farm west of

Manfred. He grew up as a

part of the Manfred Com-

munity attending Manfred

Grade School and Vang

Lutheran Church. He at-

tended Fessenden High

School where he enjoyed

all things music. He was

part of a barbershop quar-

tet called “The Playboys”

that performed at many

events and also on the ra-

dio. While attending

school he met the love of

his life, Betty Lou

Rodacker. They would

marry in 1948 and eventu-

ally settle at the Melby

family farm near Manfred.

Gene was active on the

boards for Vang Lutheran

Church and Farmers Un-

ion of Manfred. He and

Betty enjoyed attending

the Sons of Norway in

Manfred and also the Ea-

gles Club in Harvey. Gene

was the piano player for

Betty’s many years as

Choir Director at Vang

Lutheran Church and also

played for the dances at

the Sons of Norway Hall.

Many nights, you would

find Gene at the piano in

their family home with

Betty beside him singing.

After 40 years of farm-

ing, Gene retired. Not one

to be idle for long, he

found a job driving senior

citizen bus for the

Wells/Sheridan Transit

Council. In 2003, Dakota

Transit Association

named Gene “Driver of

the Year.” He was very

proud of this award but

you would never know

because he was such a

humble soul.

Of the accomplish-

ments he was most proud

of, nothing compared to

his family. He loved his

children, grandchildren,

and great grandchildren.

He is survived by his chil-

dren, Marsha Melby of

Minot, Bruce Melby of

Manfred, Michael Melby

of Minot, Arnie (Norma)

Melby of San Diego, CA,

and Bergit (Mike)

Albrecht of Apex, NC;

grandchildren, Megan

(Jeff) Blakely, KaDee

Melby and Derek Melby,

Mandy Melby and Ross

(McKenzie) Melby, Iliana

Robledo and Alexis

Melby, Emma Albrecht,

Allison Albrecht and

Ryan Albrecht; and great-

grandchildren, Benjamin

and William Blakely, and

Aiden, Robert and

Arianna Robledo.

Gene was preceded in

death by his wife of 69

years, Betty who passed

away June 8, 2018; their

infant son Brian; his

parents; and 7 siblings.

A private family ser-

vice will be held at Vang

Lutheran Church on Tues-

day, November 17, 2020

at 10:30 a.m. with burial

at the church cemetery.

This service will be

livestreamed on the fol-

lowing link: https://

youtu.be/loqlq0H6G9A

Public visitation will be

held Monday from 2 P.M.

to 4 P.M at the Nelson

Funeral Home in Fessen-

den. CDC recommenda-

tions including social dis-

tancing, hand sanitizing,

wearing a mask and stay-

ing away if not feeling

well are encouraged.

The Melby family

wishes to thank the staff

at Unit B Long-term

Health Facility of St.

Aloisius Hospital in Har-

vey for their kindness,

generosity, and care.

Online condolences

may be shared at nelson-

funeral homesnd.com.