Melissa Godejohn

Melissa Godejohn, 56, Minot, passed away on Saturday, November 15, 2025 in her home surrounded by her family.
It is with great sadness that we share the passing of our Melissa. Melissa began her battle with triple negative breast cancer in 2020, and gained her angel wings on November 15, 2025, surrounded by her loving family.
She felt gratitude, pride, joy, and love as a wife, mom, grammy, daughter, sister, auntie, friend, and teacher of many.
She was a true pink ribbon warrior. Her armor was shielded with grit and grace as she fought her battle with a strong sense of faith and hope.
Melissa Dawn was born in Minot, ND on March 12,1969, to Donald and Loretta (Knutson) Melland. She was the oldest of four siblings.
Melissa grew up in Kenmare, ND, where she attended elementary through high school, graduating from Kenmare High School with the class of '87.
She was involved in many activities throughout her school years, taking part in her church youth group, participating in band, choir, show choir, jazz band, drama, golf, cheerleading, and working part-time at the local grocery store.
She had a love for family, a zest for life, and a passion for helping others. She knew she wanted to be a teacher from a very young age and never seemed to waver from that idea. She had a great appreciation of the values, faith, and work ethic she learned growing up.
Melissa met her husband Rodney in high school. Their journey started as co-workers at the local grocery store, neither one liking the other! Rodney's quick wit and jokes eventually won Melissa's heart, and their life- long adventures began. They were married on August 11,1989 in Kenmare, ND.
They built a life in Minot, where Melissa worked at Target and attended college. She completed her bachelor's degree in '91 and started teaching that same year. Their family grew in the years that followed, as Ryley, Taylor, and Bailey joined the family.
Melissa couldn't have been more proud or happy, as the mom of three busy boys. The years of hockey and swimming practices, t-ball, a treehouse, loud music, teen drivers, and shenanigans galore kept her schedule packed, in addition to her teaching assignments.
She believed boy moms had a special tolerance for mud, noise, gross things, loud cars, basement rock bands, tons of laundry, and cleaning bathrooms.
Melissa had an enormous love for her family. Her husband Rodney, and boys, Ryley, Taylor, and Bailey and their growing families, were her world.
Her extended family, she defined as her many relatives, friends, and students she'd met throughout the years. They all were considered family in her eyes.
Melissa's teaching career provided her with the opportunity to work in the Surrey and Minot Public School Districts. She started with a bachelor's degree from Minot State, but in later years, went back to earn another degree and get her Masters.
She remained with MPS until her retirement in 2022, after 31 years of teaching. She was proud of the various assignments and travels she had through the years as enrollment changed. She taught first grade, third grade, language arts, and kindergarten.
Her longest assignment was teaching kindergarten, at North Plains Elementary on MAFB for several years. Melissa truly loved the excitement, energy, and funny stories in a kindergarten classroom. She'd never felt more at home and such excitement in teaching than when she stepped into the kindergarten world.
Melissa's free time was spent gardening and filling the yard with colorful flowers. It was her peaceful little paradise in the backyard. In addition, and in her free time, she found it uplifting to write cards to friends, and to other pink warriors she had never met.
Melissa was an avid baker. She lived for late night baking and it wasn't uncommon for a couple pans of bars or a batch of cookies to appear overnight. Her famous banana bars were a "must" for any event, and she always wanted some treats in the freezer just in case.
She insisted on weekly pizza nights and loved cooking big family dinners.
Melissa and Rodney were so fortunate to experience being grandparents to Brynnlee, Emberly, Ryker and Rhett. Melissa "Grammy Lissa" loved that she could watch the grandkids from the dock at the lake as they started tubing and skiing during the summers. Their giggles could be heard across the lake. The times they spent there, playing in the water, were "priceless" and among Melissa's favorite moments as a Grammy. Going to their programs, games, and practices were among some of her best memories, and she wished she'd been able to attend more.
As Melissa's cancer progressed, she and her family worked on completing a few travel goals, as those goals seemed to push her forward towards better days. She and Rodney visited Hawaii, she saw Pink in concert twice, the family went to Great Wolf Lodge with the kids, and they celebrated as a family for the July 4th lake weekend with all the kids, and Melissa's family.
Melissa was a member of Bread of Life Lutheran Church. Throughout the years, she taught Sunday School, Bible School, and confirmation.
She was a PTA member of the schools her children attended and the schools she taught at as well as a proud member of educational leadership groups, and school improvement groups. She was a teacher mentor to several beginning teachers through the years.
Many friends and family walked this journey with her and supported her. She appreciated it more than words could ever express. A special thanks to the groups she remained close with for many years. She genuinely looked forward to those get togethers, times to visit, and lunch dates on the calendar.
Her time with us wasn't long enough, but certainly her impact on others was inspiring. She told people she knew she was getting by on "a wing and a prayer" and she believed she got her miracle, and that it was "extra time to make memories". She lived to make memories, and she'll never be forgotten.
Melissa's family includes her loving husband of 36 years, Rodney; son, Ryley (Brooke) Godejohn; granddaughters, Brynnlee and Emberly; son, Taylor (Brittany) Godejohn; grandsons, Ryker and Rhett; son, Bailey (Kiana) Godejohn, all of Minot; her parents, Donald and Loretta Melland, Kenmare; siblings, Monica (Justin) Clark, Minot, Matthew Melland Aurora, CO, Marty (Cara) Melland, Steamboat Springs, CO; brothers and sisters-in-law, Shelly (Kevin) Adams, Minot, Kirk Godejohn, Minot, Terry (Becky) Mobley, East Grand Forks, Tami Hess, Grand Forks; along with several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins; and many special friends, teacher groups, and her very close "Twisted Sisters" as she would say.
Melissa was preceded in death by her unborn infant daughter, Abbey Dawn Godejohn; An unborn infant grandchild to Ryley and Brooke; grandparents, Casper and Orvis Knutson, Freda Melland, and Gil Melland; Uncles, Dennis Melland and David Peterson; Infant Aunt, Linda Melland; In-laws, William and Verna Mobley, and Marvin and Arliss Godejohn;
Melissa anxiously awaited reuniting with her and Rodney's angel baby Abbey Dawn, and her Brodey Boy, the best dog ever!
Public Visitation: Friday, November 21, 2025, from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. at Thompson-Larson Funeral Home, Minot.
Memorial Service: Saturday, November 22, 2025, 10:00 a.m. at Bread of Life Lutheran Church, Minot
Burial: Burlington Community Cemetery, Burlington.