Melvin Theodore Stutrud

Melvin Theodore Stu-

trud, 97, Rugby, died on

January 29, 2021, in a

Bismarck Hospital.

Mr. Stutrud was born

on May 24, 1923, the son

of Martin and Petra

(Westgard) Stutrud in

their home in Walsh

Township – Pierce Coun-

ty, North Dakota. Melvin

received his education at

Tunbridge School and

also attended Rugby High

School. Mel married

Verone (Veronica) Weigel

in Minot. He worked at

the Tunbridge elevator for

some time and then start-

ed farming near Barton.

Later they purchased a

farm northwest of Rugby

and lived and farmed

there for many years. Re-

tirement called, so they

moved to Rugby and en-

joyed living in town.

Mel had a quick wit and

was very fast with

one-liners. He enjoyed

Verone’s great cooking

and baking. Being a true

Scandinavian, he liked lu-

tefisk and lefse and to-

gether they would make

many dozens of lefse each

year. He was a longtime

member of Bethany Luth-

eran Church and enjoyed

having meals at the Rugby

Senior Center. Melvin en-

joyed country music and

they both made several

trips to Branson, Missouri

and Nashville, Tennessee.

Mel is survived by: his

wife of 77 years, Verone

and yes, the number 77 is

correct and their six chil-

dren: James (companion

Patricia Bye), Sybil (Ron)

Bednarz, Donald (Carol),

Susan (Roger) Peterson,

Sally Meidinger, and

Carol (Larry) Sawaya. Mel

is also survived by 9

grandchildren, 12

great-grandchildren, and 2

sisters, Helen Kuhnert

and Elsie Anderson.

A private family cele-

bration of life will be held

at a later date and burial

will take place at the Tun-

bridge Lutheran

Cemetery.

Niewoehner Funeral

Home, Rugby

www.niewoehner

fh.com