in memoriam
expanded eulogies
“In Memoriam” listings are expanded paid obituaries, phrased as the family requests, and may include enhanced information or photographs that might not fit within free death notices.
Melba Ihde
Melba Etta Ihde was born July 19, 1918, on a farm in Marion County, Kansas. She died Feb. 16, 2016, at St. Luke Living Center in Marion, Kansas.
Melba was the third of five children born to Etta (Wilke) Ihde and Arthur Ihde. She attended Bartholdi Elementary School, as did her father and children. She graduated from Tampa High School.
She was a member of First Baptist Church of Dickinson County until it closed. She married Harvey Clarence Ihde (no relation) on April 17, 1940. They met at church and were active members.
She was a Sunday School teacher, youth group sponsor, scripture memory leader, vacation Bible school teacher and Women’s Missionary Society president. Harvey served as clerk, treasurer, deacon, Sunday school teacher, and in his youth as custodian with his father.
In 1990, Melba and Harvey celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. Their daughter Barbara and husband Ted celebrated their 50th in 2013. Melba’s parents and both sets of grandparents also celebrated their 50th anniversaries, as did Melba’s brother Roscoe with Jackie, and their daughter Donna with Bill Chafin.
Melba is survived by three children, Barbara Howland and husband Ted, Linda Ihde, and David Ihde and his wife Mona; four grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and eight great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband Harvey on Sept. 11, 1999; her parents; her brothers, Orville, Roscoe, Maurice, and Raymond; her grandson, Leon Ihde, in 1998; and her granddaughter, Tina McCallister, in 2015.
Melba was a gentle, quiet, and caring woman who aided members in all generations of her family over the long years of her life. She will be sorely missed by everyone in her family.
The family of Melba wishes to thank the staff for their kind and loving care during her residence at St. Luke, and also wishes to thank the staff of Good Shepherd Hospice for easing her last days.
Funeral services for Melba will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 20, 2016, at Carlson-Becker Funeral Home in Hope, with Pastor Chester Strobel officiating. Her final resting place will be in First Baptist Church Cemetery. The family of Melba will receive friends from 6 to 7 p.m. Friday evening at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to Good Shepherd Hospice or to Crusade for Christ and may sent in care of Carlson-Becker Funeral Home, P.O. Box 355, Hope KS 67451. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.martinbeckercarslon.com.