Melvin Arnold Maaninga

Melvin Arnold Maaninga, age 83, lifelong Menahga resident, passed away on Monday, March 28, 2011, at St. Joseph's Area Hospital in Park Rapids. Melvin was born May 3, 1927, in Shell River Township, Wadena County, MN to Eino and Helmi (nee Tanskila) Maaninga. In his childhood years, he attended the country school nearby and later attended Menahga High School, all the while helping his parents on the family dairy and crop farm east of Menahga. On August 15, 1953, Melvin was united in marriage to Darlene H. Downer of the Huntersville area. They made their home in Shell River Township for a time before moving to Menahga in the late 1950s. Melvin and Darlene were blessed with four children: Myrna, Wayne, Bryan and Darryn. Upon leaving the family farm, Melvin worked at the Menahga Co-op Creamery and later worked for Carl Anderson Trucking and Paul Siegel Trucking picking up milk from local dairy farms and hauling it to the creameries in Sebeka and Perham to be processed. Melvin was seriously injured in a vehicle accident on the job in 1972. After recuperating from his injuries, he worked for Minnesota Forest Products for a short time. In 1975 he gained employment with the Wadena County Highway Department, where he worked on the road crew plowing snow, repairing and maintaining roads in the Menahga and Huntersville area. He worked in that job until his retirement in 1989. Melvin was a hard worker, and he also liked to have fun. He enjoyed getting together with his buddies and co-workers to discuss the news of the day. He loved to share a good story and was somewhat of a practical jokester. He looked forward to visits from his grown children and grandchildren and other family members and friends. There was always an invitation to sit and stay a while for coffee, conversation and a snack. Melvin was a collector of many things and was diligent in his efforts to do his part for the environment, recycling aluminum cans and other scrap metals. He continued in that hobby until his difficulty in walking got to be too much. Melvin was looking forward to a hip replacement in 2009, but that was not to be. He had some heart problems, and following surgery was admitted to the Green Pine Acres Nursing Home in Menahga in September 2009, where he resided until his death. Melvin will be lovingly remembered by family and friends for his sense of humor and his kindness. If anyone needed help, he was right there to give a hand. Melvin is survived by his wife Darlene to whom he was married for 57 years; daughter Myrna (Don) Baumgart of rural Menahga; sons Wayne of East Grand Forks, MN, Bryan of Menahga, and Darryn (Brenda) of Moorhead; 8 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren, many cousins, nieces and nephews. Melvin was preceded in death by his parents. Visitation will be from 5-8 on Monday, April 4, 2011 at First English Lutheran Church in Menahga and on hour prior to the service at the church. Funeral Services will be held 1:00 PM Tuesday, April 5, 2011 at First English Lutheran Church in Menahga with Pastor Steven A. Bruer officiating. Lila Marjama will serve as organist and soloist singing “One Day at a Time” and “The Lord’s Prayer” Congregational hymns will be “The Old Rugged Cross” and “Lift High the Cross.” Honorary Pallbearers will be all who called him friend, the Staff at Green Pine Acres Nursing Home and all of his great-grandchildren. Active Casketbearers are Nathan Lapinoja, Justin Lapinoja, Andrew Maaninga, Kristen Maaninga, Nathan Larson, Cody Larson, Dale Maaninga and Mitchell Maaninga. Interment will be at Jim Cook Cemetery.