Folstad, Melvin O. -- 1919 - 1989

FOLSTAD, BRENNA, BJERKE, MYHRE, SCHMITZ

Posted By: Barry M. Dahl (email)
Date: 11/24/2010 at 17:37:53

From the Welch collection. Mabel-- Melvin Folstad, 70, of Mabel, a former farmer who later worked for an engraving company, died of a stroke Wednesday at Tweeten Lutheran Clinic in Spring Grove. Born July 29, 1919, near Mabel, he attended Hesper Public School and was a 1939 graduate of Mabel High School. He married Lelah Brenna July 25, 1946, in Mabel, and they farmed in Winneshiek County, Iowa, until moving to Mabel in 1971.

He then worked for Northern engraving in Spring Grove for nine years. A World War II veteran, he was a member of the Mabel American Legion and VFW posts. He was a member of Hesper Lutheran Church and had served on the Hesper Lutheran Cemetery Board.

Survivors include his wife; four sons, Marvin and Dean of Mabel, and Leslie and Gerald of Decorah, Iowa; four daughters, Mary Myhre of Mabel, Joyce Bjerke of Dorchester, Iowa, Sonya Folstad of Houston, Texas, and Colleen Meyer of Caledonia; 14 grandchildren; two step-great-grandchilden; three brothers, Maynard and Arland of Mabel, and Charles of Decorah; and a sister, Beatrice Schmitz of Caledonia. A brother preceded him in death.

The funeral wil be 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Hesper Lutheran Church with the Rev. Donald Peterson officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Friends may call from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday at Mengis funeral Home in Mabel and an hour before the service Saturday at the church.