Melvin Such

Melvin Louis Such peacefully passed away on May 3, 2025, in Hallock, Minnesota.

Melvin was born on May 29, 1931, to Barney and Erma (Gorsuch) Such in Grafton, North Dakota. The family lived on a farm near St. Thomas, North Dakota, until 1941 when they purchased a farmstead in Skane Township in Kittson County. In 1942, Barney passed away in a farm accident, and Melvin's farming career began. His mother, with help from her brother Bill Gorsuch, and Melvin, working before and after school, continued to run the farm. Melvin graduated from Kennedy High School in 1949. As the years passed, electricity, rural water, rows of hundreds of trees, and acreage were added to the farm.

On July 12, 1976, Melvin married Helen Ann Peterson and became a father to Janet, Barb, and Noel. Eventually, the grandchildren started arriving, and Melvin could not have been a prouder grandfather. He loved watching their activities, from sports to music to 4H, but he mostly loved, more than anything, spending time with them. He taught all of us the importance of honesty, a strong work ethic, and family. For him, fun time was working, building pieces of equipment because "what's the fun in just buying it."

In his later years, Melvin still enjoyed working around the farm that Noel had taken over. He was so proud that Noel continued to build the farm and that Jadyn had joined him. Always one to give his advice, he was still trying to remember what he wanted to tell them three days before he passed. Melvin's hobbies kept him young. He loved "tinkering around"; petting the cat and dog; playing cards; family bonfires; watching the local high school games; and driving around. Walking the county road and riding his bicycle to Northcote into his 80s "kept his legs moving." Even a year ago, he could be seen still tooling around town on his bike, singing a song or enjoying an ice cream cone. He was an avid reader, very thankful that Peggy could provide stacks of books he would enjoy.

Melvin moved into an apartment at the Rivers Edge Assisted Living Facility in the fall of 2024. We are forever grateful to Jodee Sugden and her staff for making it a home for Grandpa and their unparalleled care. We are also thankful for the Hospice of the Red River Valley for his care during his last week of life. What a gift to be able to have Nannie care for him. He will be so missed.

Melvin leaves behind his children Janet (Owen) Swenson, Barb (Jim) Prather, and Noel (Heather) Peterson; grandchildren Kalli Peterson, Bailey (Jordan) Modlin, Nannie Peterson, Bryden Swenson, Jadyn (Alyssa) Swenson, Stephanie Prather, and Gus Peterson; sister Elsie Egstad; brother Don (Alice) Such; sisters-in-law Trudy Such, Sharon Such, and Taska Martini. He is also survived by his nieces and nephews, who all had a special place in his heart.

Preceding him in death were his wife, Helen Ann Such; parents, Barney and Erma Such; parents-in-law, Cliff and Evelyn Martini; sisters, Bernice Carlson and Helen Minchinton Torgerson; brothers, Ray Such and Robert Such; brothers-in-law, Ted Carlson, Tom Minchinton, Ellsworth Torgerson, Ludvig (Louie) Egstad, and Neil Martini.

Melvin's funeral service will be Tuesday, May 6 at 11:00 a.m. at Red River Lutheran Church. Interment will be at Red River Cemetery. Visitation will be held at Red River on Monday, May 5 from 6-8 p.m. with a prayer service at 7:00 p.m.

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