Melvin Ernest Kinnunen

Melvin Ernest Kinnunen, 85 of Menahga, was called to his eternal home with the Lord on Saturday, March 25th 2023. He passed peacefully after his Alzheimer’s Dementia progressed, surrounded by family under the care of the St. Joseph’s Hospice team and the amazing staff at Crystal Brook memory care. Melvin was born on January 5th, 1938 in Shell River Township, Menahga, Minnesota to Adam and Esther (Lake) Kinnunen. He was their third child and oldest son. Melvin attended the Sunnyside Country School until 7th grade where he learned English among other things as his first language was Finnish. He continued the rest of his education at Menahga High School, graduating with the class of 1956. Melvin was a very active athlete in high school and lettered in four sports; football, basketball, track, and baseball. He was even inducted into the Menahga Amateur League Baseball Hall of Fame. After High School, he attended Hanson Mechanical Trade School in Fargo, ND and later obtained an Associate’s Degree in Farm Business Management from Central Lakes College in Staples, MN. Melvin worked in Fingal, North Dakota for a farmer, worked as a truck driver for the Calumet Mining Company in northern MN, and was an oiler as a Merchant Mariner on the Smith Thompson, Joseph B. Thompson, and Carle C. Conway ships in the United States Coast Guard – sailing the Great Lakes. Melvin also served in the MN National Guard, Wadena Unit from 1961 to 1966 when we was honorably discharged. He is a Member of the Sebeka American Legion. Melvin began farming on Oct 11, 1961 – he purchased the farm from his parents and later multiple adjacent farms over the span of 35 years, making Kinnunen Farms into what it is today. Melvin spent most of his life as a Dairy Farmer which was in his blood as he often recalled that his grandmother in Lapland (Finland) had a herd of reindeer she milked. He also worked as a part time relief mail carrier for roughly 15 years. Melvin married Ruth Ann Niemi on June 6, 1970 and they had four children. Melvin & Ruth were named Wadena County Farm Family of the Year in 1991. Melvin had a strong drive to serve civically and was a member of the following: Farm Business Management program from Central Lakes College – Staples Advisory Committee for Farm Business Management Wadena Soil and Water Conservation Board –including Board Representative on the Expo Committee as well as Regional Representative Wadena County Planning and Zoning Commission and Variance Board Wadena County Water Plan Advisory Committee Wadena County Jail Study Committee Wadena County Ag Society – Wadena County Fair Board Member, Chairperson Designed and developed the Pride Auction for 4-H livestock members Minnesota Forest Products Cooperative – 1967 to 1984 Northern Cooperative Services (Leaf River Ag) Northern Cooperative Scholarship Foundation Menahga Co-op Sampo Board for 27 years Menahga Public School Policy Committee Shell River Township Board – 1962 to 2020 Fire Warden for Shell River Township over 50 years Wadena County Extension Committee and Representative for Regional Level Extension Committee Associate Chair and later Chair of the Wadena County DFL political party Redeemer Lutheran Church – Menahga Melvin had multiple other interests including hunting, fishing, snowmobiling, playing cards, reading the daily newspaper (never missing the comics), traveling, and bird watching. He was fortunate even as a busy dairy farmer to have traveled to 43 states. He was very proud of his Finnish heritage, enjoying saunas whenever he could and if it hadn’t required a flight, he would have traveled to Finland too. Melvin was an avid sports fan and would watch various college and national league sports. He really enjoyed the Olympics as well, proudly cheering for the American athletes, unless there were Finns competitors. He also played baseball after High School for the Menahga and Huntersville teams and later was a Team Manager for the Huntersville Horseflies. Those who mourn Melvin’s passing are his devoted wife of 53 years, Ruth Ann; 3 children: Michael of Menahga, Jennifer (Chad) Schlauderaff of Detroit Lakes, & Kristine (Badger) Koepplin of New Salem, ND; 4 grandchildren: Cody and Garrett Koepplin, & Kiptin and Koralyn Schlauderaff; nieces, nephew, 1 sister-in-law: Helen Steiner, and many extended family and friends. He was preceded in death by: his parents, son John, in-laws Linda & William Niemi, 2 sisters: Hazel Sarkela & Arleen Matta, 1 brother: Ralph Kinnunen, and 3 brothers-in-law. Visitation will be held from 5-7 PM Thursday, March 30, 2023 at Wevley Funeral Home, Sebeka, MN and continue one hour prior to the service at the church. Funeral Services will be held 11 AM Friday, March 31, 2023 at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Menahga, MN. Interment will be at Meadow Cemetery rural Menahga.