Melvin "Mel" Lee Pettersen

Melvin “Mel” Lee Pettersen passed away peacefully at his home on his farm in rural Lake Crystal, Minnesota, on October 30, 2025, at the age of 89. He was surrounded by his family.

A visitation will be held on Saturday, November 8, 2025, from 12:00–2:00p.m. at Lake Crystal Mortuary. A private burial will take place afterward at North Lincoln Cemetery in rural Lake Crystal.

Mel was born on July 25, 1936, in Madelia Village, Minnesota, to Kenneth and Elsie (Hoeft) Pettersen. He spent his childhood on the family farm near Madelia, attending the local country school and learning the value of hard work and responsibility.

In 1953, the Pettersen family moved to a farm near Lake Crystal. The family raised dairy cows and grew corn and soybeans – a way of life that would define Mel’s days for the next seven decades.

Mel served his country in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam era, stationed at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.

On March 16, 1996, Mel married Cheryl (Trudeau) Davis, and with that union, he gained not only a loving wife but also four daughters. Over their 29 years together, Mel and Cheryl built a life filled with laughter, hard work, and a love that grew stronger through every season. Their home became a place where family gatherings, holidays and harvests were celebrated.

Farming was more than Mel’s occupation – it was his identity. He farmed with purpose and pride until the age of 88. Mel cherished the early mornings, the sight of newly turned soil, and the satisfaction of a harvest well-earned. In his final autumn, he watched his fields harvested from his window and waited for the earth to be turned – content to see another season come full circle.

Mel is survived by his beloved wife, Cheryl (Trudeau Davis) Pettersen of Lake Crystal; and by his daughters Sara (John) Nelson of North Mankato, Emily (Dennis) Rudie of rural Lake Crystal, Amanda (Nate Ruch) Davis of North Mankato, and Lindsey (Chad Hamann) Davis of rural Mapleton.

He was a proud grandfather to Katherine and Marit Nelson; Benjamin Rudie; Nicholas and Brynn Bohlke; Cloey Ruch; Simon Kuntz; and Ruby Hamann. He is also survived by his brother-in-law, Kelly (Vicki) Trudeau; sisters-in-law, Sue Jones, Julie Jones, and Carmen Trudeau; and several nieces and nephews.

Mel was preceded in death by his parents, Kenneth and Elsie (Hoeft) Pettersen; his brothers and sisters-in-law, Lloyd and Avis Pettersen, Robert and Ethel Pettersen, Willard and Alene Pettersen, and Phillip and Curline Pettersen; father and mother-in-law, Leo and Frances Trudeau; and brother-in-law, Terry Trudeau.

Though he outlived many dear relatives and friends, Mel carried each of them in his heart, always taking time to remember their lives and honor their memories.

Mel’s life was a testament to family and the land he loved. He measured his days not in years but in seasons – each one a reminder of the simple beauty of a life well-lived. Those who knew him will remember his humility and kindness.