The Celebration of a Life Well Lived by Susie Melby, 96, lifelong Hettinger, ND resident will be Tuesday, June 23rd, 2009 at 1:00 p.m. at the First Congregational Church in Hettinger, ND. Rev. Kathleen Dettmann will officiate. Visitation will be from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. at the church on Monday, June 22nd.

Life long Hettinger resident Susie Melby passed away on June 18, 2009, at the age of 96, at the West River Regional Hospital surrounded by her family.

Mom was born at the family homestead on May 30, 1913 the fourth child of Tom and Mollie Stevens. At 7 years of age, the family moved to Hettinger. There she attended school graduating in 1931.

Mom was united in marriage to Dad, Cecil Melby, on September 4, 1933. To their union were born four children: Marilyn (Robert – deceased) Bartz, Hettinger; Tom (Ruth Ratzlaff) Melby, deceased; Cecilia (Mike) Tank, Bozeman, MT; Mary Ellen (Dick) Gustin, Butte, MT.

Mom was involved in numerous organizations including BPW, Congregational Women's Fellowship, Hospital Auxiliary, Senior Citizens, Hettinger Country Club, and numerous card and coffee groups. She was also a member of the Congregational Church.

Along with Dad, Mom owned and operated the Adams County Creamery. Their commitment to the Hettinger community was to provide high-quality products, fair business practices, personal integrity, and community service.

Mom's life revolved around her family and friends. She enjoyed playing cards, morning breakfast with her breakfast buddies, visiting with friends over coffee including those at Western Horizons, and her trips to the casino. Her greatest enjoyment was teaching "Lakeside Rummy" to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Mom is survived by her 3 daughters, Marilyn, Cecilia, and Mary Ellen; 2 sons-in-law, Mike Tank and Dick Gustin; 1 daughter-in-law, Ruth Ratzlaff; 17 grandchildren; 43 great-grandchildren; 13 great-great grandchildren; 2 brothers-in-law, Loren (Grace) Klein of Clearwater FL and Carroll Klein of Coos Bay, OR; 2 nephews, Jack (Betty) Stevens of Albuquerque, NM and Barry (Betty) Stevens of Hettinger; a niece, Patsy (Don) Loth of Tacoma, WA and numerous nieces and nephews on the Melby side.

Our Mom was preceded in death by our Dad Cecil, her son Tom, her parents Tom and Mollie, her sisters Ona May and Mary Ellen, another sister and her husband Vera and John Myers, her brother and his wife Barton and Beulah Stevens, a son-in-law Robert Bartz, and a great-grandson Christopher Zentner.