Service Information
Delpha Mellies, age 91, of Hutchinson, formerly of Buffalo Lake, passed away Thursday, January 19, 2017, at Harmony River Living Center in Hutchinson.
Funeral Service will be Monday, January 23, 2017, at 11:00 A.M. at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Buffalo Lake, with interment in the Church Cemetery.
Visitation will be Sunday, January 22, 2017, from 5:00 – 8:00 P.M. at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Buffalo Lake, and will continue on Monday for one hour prior to the service.
Obituary
Delpha Ordella (Hillmann) Mellies was born November 1, 1925, in Wellington Township, Renville County, Minnesota, the daughter of Arthur and Alvina (Freyholz) Hillmann. She was baptized on November 22, 1925 at the Emanuel Lutheran Church in Wellington Township, rural Fairfax, and was confirmed in her faith there in 1938. Delpha received her education in Fairfax, and graduated with the Class of 1943 from the Fairfax High School.
On February 21, 1944, Delpha was united in marriage to Virgil Raymond Mellies at the Emanuel Lutheran Church in Wellington Township. Engaged in farming, the couple lived five years near Stewart before moving to their farm southwest of Buffalo Lake. In 1977, they moved to their home north of Buffalo Lake. Delpha kept busy as a homemaker, mother, and helper to her farmer husband. For 25 years Delpha and Virgil spent winter months in Mesa, Arizona. They were blessed with 58 years of marriage together. Virgil died April 3, 2004. During and following that time, Delpha continued to live on their farm, moving to Harmony River Living Center 1½ years ago.
Delpha was a member of Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Buffalo Lake. She was a woman of great strength. When many would have given up and ran away, Delpha kept going. She took great pride in her home and responsibilities as a mother and farm wife. She instilled in her family many important values: always have faith, do your best, be patient, laugh, and everything is better with food. She made apple pie from the apples on her trees, and the crust was made from scratch. With her grapevines she made grape jelly and grape juice. Delpha especially enjoyed spending time with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She celebrated her 90th birthday last year with all of her family around her, and pictures from her celebration will forever be treasured memories.
On Thursday, January 19, 2017, Delpha passed away at Harmony River Living Center, having reached the age of 91 years. Blessed be her memory.
Delpha is survived by her:
Children: Jan Melberg and her husband, Sheldon, of Buffalo Lake,
Ron Mellies and his wife, Sally, of Hector,
Shirley Ludowese and her husband, John, of Hutchinson,
Leslie Mellies and his wife, Carol, of Stewart,
Vernon Mellies and his wife, Rose, of Stewart,
Dennis Mellies and his wife, Jodi, of Hector;
Grandchildren: Chad (Sarah) Mellies, Michelle {Melberg} (Chad) Paulson, Michael Melberg, Matthew (Shylah) Melberg, Eric (Gretchen) Mellies, David (Samantha) Mellies, Andrew (Erin) Ludowese, Jennifer {Ludowese} (Chris) Picken, Daniel Ludowese, Shannon {Mellies} McDonnell, Jessica {Mellies} (Matt) Kutz, James Mellies (fiancé Lexy Drysdale), Clinton (Angie) Mellies, Bradley Mellies, Melissa {Mellies} (Tyler) Orth, Joshua Mellies, Kyle Mellies;
24 Great-Grandchildren and counting: Kama Hill, Jamel Hill, Savannah Mellies, Maisie Mellies, Mikayla Paulson, Mariah Paulson, Sutton Melberg, Saxton Melberg, Sawyer Melberg, Wilson Melberg, Calvin Mellies, Abigail Mellies, Montana Mellies, Stella Mellies, Vanessa Ludowese, Morgann Ludowese, Colin Picken, Blake Picken, Logan McDonnell, Addison McDonnell, Brody Kutz, Cassey Kutz, Logan Mellies, Brooke Mellies;
Sister, Mavis {Hillmann} {Bruns} McPheeters of Hutchinson;
Brother, Orlando Hillmann of Buffalo Lake;
Sisters-in-law: Jean Hillmann of Fairfax,
Glendora {Mellies} Kirkwood of Carbondale, Kansas,
Marylou {Mellies} Buckholtz of Carbondale, Kansas;
nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.
Delpha was preceded in death by her: parents, Arthur and Alvina Hillmann; husband Virgil Mellies; children: Marlene in 1944, Henry in 1945, Marilyn in 1950, and Charles in 2015; granddaughter Mardell (Mellies) Hill in 2011; siblings: Ardine and wife Ramona Hillmann, Geneva and husband Donald Franzeen, Eugene Hillmann; brother-in-law Wesley Bruns; sister-in-law Marjorie Hillmann.
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