MELBA RICHARDSON obituary

Melba Louise Richardson, 84, died Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2005, at Northern Montana Care Center of natural causes.

Her funeral service will be 2 p.m. Friday at Van Orsdel United Methodist Church with the Rev. Vaundalee Delong officiating. Burial will follow at the Highland

Cemetery. A fellowship luncheon will be held at Van Orsdel Methodist Church.

Mel was born Sept. 6, 1920, in Denbigh, N.D., to John O. and Louise (Black) Steele. She was raised and educated in North Dakota.

She married Clyde C. Richardson April 7, 1943, in North Dakota. They moved to Havre in 1958. Mel worked for Baltrusch Construction for five years and then went to work for the Havre Daily News as the manager of the classified ad department. She retired from there after 23 years.

Mel was a member of Van Orsdel United Methodist Church, the Lutheran Home Auxiliary, Northern Montana Hospital Auxiliary, the Senior Center and Eagles Auxiliary. She enjoyed playing bingo, pinochle, sporting activities, and her grandchildren. She was the grandmother of wrestling, always attending their events.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Clyde Richardson, in 1982; stepdaughters, Bette Ulland and Mildred Coleman; and grandson, Jonathan Vega.

Survivors include her daughter, Leann (Johnny) Vega of Pearland, Texas; sons, Duane (Joyce) Richardson of Henderson, Nev., Tary (Kathy) Richardson of Havre and Gary (Wanda) Richardson of Havre; stepsons Jim (Carolyn) Richardson of Havre and Bob (Jo) Richardson of Boulder City, Nev.; 17 grandchildren; and numerous great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to the Van Orsdel United Methodist Church or to Northern Montana Care Center P.O. Box 1231 Havre, MT 59501.