Melva Dybedahl, 73, of rural Dell Rapids died unexpectedly Friday, August 3, 2012 in Dell Rapids.
Funeral services will begin at 10:30 AM Tuesday, August 7, 2012 at Willow Creek Lutheran Church, rural Dell Rapids. Visitation with the family present from 4-8:00 PM Monday, August 6, 2012 at the Minnehaha Funeral Home, Dell Rapids. Burial will be in the Willow Creek Lutheran Cemetery.
Melva was born on the farm southwest of Hartford, SD on April 30, 1939 to Clark & Bernadine Gregg. At the age of 6 her family moved to a farm on the west edge of Baltic along the Big Sioux River. Melva graduated from Baltic High School in 1957 where she was the Homecoming Queen.
Melva married Navis Dybedahl in Baltic on March 22, 1958 and have resided on their farm all 54 years of their marriage. Melva was a member of Willow Creek Lutheran Church & WELCA. Melva served the residents of the Odd Fellows Home and later Terrace Manor in the activities area for many years until God called her home.
Melva was well known for her compassionate care and loving heart and had a reputation for putting others first. Melva’s kitchen table was frequently a meeting place for friends and family where great conversations happened, and they had the opportunity to enjoy her home-cooked meals. Some of her favorites were homemade pizza, carrot cake, Swedish meatballs, and ice cream jello.
Grateful for having shared her life are her husband, Navis Dybedahl, Dell Rapids; children, Craig (Bonnie) Dybedahl, Colton, Kevin (Pam) Dybedahl, Dell Rapids, Todd (Kim) Dybedahl, Sioux Falls and Sandy (Rick) Zwart, Dell Rapids; thirteen grandchildren; Matt, Paul & Mary Dybedahl; Jessica Evans, Jake Dybedahl, Tarah Burggraff, & Tye Dybedahl; Zach & Seth Dybedahl, Chelsie Huska, & Dylan Dybedahl; Gregg & Brad Zwart; five great-grandchildren; brother, Charles Gregg, Dell Rapids; sisters, Audrey (Elden) Hilmoe, Dell Rapids and LaVonne Leitheiser, Sioux Falls. She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Don Gregg, and her step father, Cliff Ottum.
Memorials may be directed to the Willow Creek Cemetery. http://www.minnehahafuneralhome.com