Meland, Anna C. 1861-1949

MELAND, NEWTON, TRAGGARDT, SHAHAN, SETHER, IVERSON, WILKINSON, BLACK, HARRINGTON

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 3/31/2013 at 08:37:24

The Grinnell (IA) Herald-Register; Jan. 12, 1950

MRS. ANNA C. MELAND

Mrs. Anna C. Meland, who made her home in Grinnell for twenty-five years, died at 6:00 o'clock on the evening of Christmas day in Pelican Rapids, Minn. Mrs. Meland had been an invalid confined to her bed since Feb. 12, 1945, when she suffered a stroke of paralysis.

Mrs. Meland was a sister of the late Mrs. Clara E. Iverson. Mrs. Cordia Wilkinson of Grinnell is a niece and Jake and Tom Newton, Mrs. Frank Black and Mrs. Anna Harrington are first cousins.

Anna C. Meland was born in Dane county, Wis., the daughter of Charles and Rachael Newton on August 21, 1861. When she was a year old the family moved by covered wagon to Grinnell, where her father took a homestead, the present Elmer Hillmann farm. Here she received her education and made her home until her marriage on March 17, 1887, to Rev. A. Meland, who at that time was serving a parish at Carbon, in Adams county. In January of 1888 the Meland family moved to Pelican Rapids, Minn., where Rev. Mr. Meland continued to serve a parish consisting of the Pelican Rapids church and nearby country churches until his retirement in August of 1926. He died on Nov. 20, 1938.

Mrs. Meland was his efficient helpmeet and interested in the various church activities. For many years she served as church organist.

She was the oldest of a family of eight children of whom three survive. They are Miss Lucy Newton and Mrs. Rachel Traggardt of San Diego, Calif., and Mrs. Josephine Shahan of Des Moines.

There were four sons in the Meland family. Surviving are Dr. Orville Meland of Los Angeles, Calif., and Alvin Meland of Pelican Rapids. Richard died Sept. 9, 1927, and Dr. Ernest L. Meland of Minneapolis passed away Dec. 3, 1944, survived by three sons and a daughter. Alvin Meland has one son, Harding, at home. Rev. and Mrs. Meland were also the foster parents of Dr. Julian M. Sether, now with Memorial hospital in New York City.

Funeral services were held in the Pelican Rapids church on Dec. 30. In his remarks, Rev. M.S. Gjerde paid Mrs. Meland this tribute: "She was the best known and most loved woman of Pelican Rapids."