Ronald Richard Melbye

Funeral Services for Ronald R. Melbye will be conducted from the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege, Nebraska on Saturday, September 20, 2008 at 2:00 P.M. with the Pastor Craig Cedar officiating. Interment will be held at the Wilcox Cemetery in Wilcox Nebraska following the funeral service.

Ronald Richard Melbye passed away on Sunday, September 14, 2008 in Alma, NE at the age of 86. Ron was born to George Herbert and Leota Margaret (Clayton) Melbye at their home on October 21, 1921 in Erie, North Dakota. As a teenager he worked with the Civilian Conservation Corps in Minnesota to help support his family. While living in Chicago, IL he met and married Marjorie Samuelson on February 17, 1943. He joined the Army Air Corp and served his country as a bombardier in the European Theater. He flew 28 missions, achieving the rank of 1st Lieutenant. After being discharged Marjorie and he settled in Wilcox, NE. His father-in-law, Oscar Samuelson, and he operated a grocery store and meat market. Ron was a rural mail carrier for the Wilcox Post Office, delivering mail for 30 years. Ron also worked as a meat cutter and a house painter. With good friend Jim Lynch they painted the ceiling of the Minden Opera House. He was a member of the Wilcox Lions Club, Wilcox Volunteer Fire Department, American Legion, the Elks and Eagle clubs of Holdrege and served as Scout Master of the Wilcox Boy Scout Troop for several years. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, gardening, refinishing and making furniture, and was an avid football fan. Along with his two sons he refurbished Model T's and Model A's then driving them to Chicago to sell.

He is survived by son Ron and wife Gloria Melbye of Waverly, NE; daughters, Ginger and husband Bob Roerig of Littleton, CO, Nancy Ball of Fort Collins, CO, and Deborah and husband Art Soderholm of Sutherland, NE; one sister, Jean Bond of Evanston, IL; 9 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren, and loyal friend Jim Lynch of Wilcox. He is also survived by a host of other relatives and friends.

Preceding him in death was his wife Marjorie; son, Richard; siblings, Ozzie and Shirley; parents, George and Leota Melbye, and in-laws, Oscar and Etta Samuelson.

In lieu of flowers the family asks that you contribute to a memorial fund that will go to the Nebraska WW II Hero's flight to Washington, DC or to the Colonial Villa Good Samaritan Center in Alma.

Visitation will be held on Friday, September 19, 2008 from 1:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com

The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege is in charge of the arrangements.