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Melvin J. Dufner • 1933 - 2008 Melvin John Dufner was born June 17, 1933 on the family farm in Muskego Township, Renville County, rural Lansford, ND, the son of John N. and Susan (Straub) Dufner. He was raised on the farm and attended country school at Muskego #1. Melvin was drafted into the United States Army in August of 1956. He served until his honorable discharge in May of 1958 and returned to the family farm. Melvin married Ava Marie Rennie on July 24, 1958 at St. Leo's Catholic Church in Minot. They made their home and raised their nine children on the family farm in Muskego Township. Melvin farmed and had dairy cows until 1995. After retirement he continued to help his sons with the farm work until the time of his death. He was a member of St. Philomena Catholic Church, Glenburn, ND and served as trustee for several years. He was a member of the Mohall Good Samaritan Advisory Board from 1977 to 1981. He was the Soil Conservation Award recipient and the NDSU Agriculturist Award recipient in 1976. Melvin served as president for the Renville, Bottineau Ag Improvement Association in 1974. Those who shared in his life, loving wife of 50 years, Ava, Lansford; children, Susan Kaliher and Jeanne Dufner, both in Minot, Tim Dufner, Lansford and special friend, Kathy Wallstrum, Maureen (Eric) Stambaugh, Norwich, Alan Dufner, Lansford and his special friend, Deanna Jundt, James (Renee) Dufner, Glenburn, Karen (Jeremy) Thompson, Max, Kathy (Greg) Zenz, Max, John (Sara) Dufner, Minot, son-in-law, Pete Kaliher, Minot; 16 grandchildren and one great-grandson; brothers and sisters, Vergil Dufner and Albin Dufner, both in Minot, Delores (Merle) Routledge, Glenburn, Vernita Broderick and Donna (Lynn) Roberts all in Minot, Loreen (Mike) Kiskila, San Jose, CA, Orville (Sharen) Dufner, Minot, Theresa Bowen, Bellville, IL, Betty (Ed) Schall, Minot; half sister, Agnes Poppler, Williston; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Melvin was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Marcella Weber, infant brother, stepmother, Irene Dufner and aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins. Funeral: Thursday, January 8, 2009 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Leo's Catholic Church, Minot, ND. Visitation and vigil prayer service: Visitation Wednesday, January 7, 2008, from noon to 4:30 p.m. at Thompson-Larson Funeral Home, Minot and from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. at St. Philomena Catholic Church, Glenburn, ND, with the vigil service in the church at 7:00 p.m. Burial: Thursday at 3:00 p.m. at St. Henry's Catholic Cemetery, rural Foxholm, ND. Celebrant of the Liturgies: Father John Paul Gardner Reader: Ron Hensen Gift Bearers: Jim and Becky Limke Music Honorary Bearers: Melvin's family and friends Active Bearers Following the funeral everyone is invited to join the family for lunch and fellowship at the Knights of Columbus, located at 2601 N. Broadway, Minot. Melvin's immediate family will follow in a loose procession to take Melvin through the farm one more time, before meeting at the cemetery for the final prayers. Anyone wishing to attend the graveside service is asked to meet at the cemetery at 3:00 p.m. The vase of roses on the altar are there to signify the love
Melvin's family has for him. 9 red roses from his children,
16 yellow roses from his grandchildren and 1 white rose from
his great-grandson To sign the online guest register
for Melvin |
Melvin
J. Dufner, 75, Lansford, ND, died Sunday, January 4, 2009 in
a Minot hospital.