Melanie Lundquist

Melanie Jean Lundquist (Peterson), passed gently into Heaven's realms on December 4th, 2025.

Mel was born at Miners Hospital on March 28, 1949 in Crosby, MN to Eric and Ellen Peterson. She was the third of five children in a close-knit family with lots of aunts, uncles and cousins and one precious grandmother. She graduated from Crosby Ironton High School in 1967. Keyboards, whether typewriter or later computer, were no match for her flying fingers. She was recommended for an after-school job at Halletts because of her skills. After a brief stint at Brainerd Community College where she enjoyed lessons in scuba diving, she moved to Minneapolis to work—just like Mary Tyler Moore. Mel worked at Hennepin County Social Services. While there, she met Gary (Lunny) Lundquist. He was THE ONE! They married on April 19, 1975 and greatly enjoyed their life together. They later moved back to Crosby to enjoy the small-town life and to assist their aging parents. With her parents and Lunny, Mel attended the Bible Baptist Church in Crosby, which she cherished. Mel worked in Brainerd at the Crow Wing County attorney’s office, social services and as a court clerk in the district court. She enjoyed her jobs, especially when working under intense pressure with time constraints. Mel enjoyed various interests such as reading cozy mysteries, hand crafts, movies and always being together with family and friends, young and old. She loved her dogs. Mel and Lunny moved out to the Deerwood countryside to build a home and live among nature. The place was a sanctuary for Mel, living among the wildlife of birds, deer, critters large and small. Here is where her kind and gentle spirit left us. We grieve but are comforted in knowing she is at peace.

Preceding her in death are her parents, Eric and Ellen Peterson, her sister Faith Peterson, her brother Pete Peterson, her husband Gary, bro-in-law Dan Risser, great nephew Bruce Corbesia (son of her niece Angela) and six much loved dogs.

Mel is survived by her sister Nancy Risser of Bend, OR, Kathy Thompson and bro-in-law Gary, Champlin, MN and generations of much-loved nieces and nephews, and cousins. Her nephew Matt assisted her greatly in her final months. She loved her dear friends, both older, her age and younger. Her faithful dog Jack is now residing with Kathy and Gary in Champlin

.A private graveside internment will take place in the spring of 2026.