Dennis Ray Melby was born Dec. 14, 1938, on a farm near Moorhead, Iowa, to Raymond and Evelyn (Hein) Melby, the second of six children, and passed away June 6, 2023, in Friend.
As a young boy, Dennis attended Soldier Iowa Public Schools and graduated with the class of 1956. Dennis moved to Omaha, where he was employed with a trailer home manufacturer, along with other various jobs. In November of 1960, Dennis was united in marriage to Florence Johnson in Onawa, Iowa, and to this union, four children were born: Brenda, Bradley, Brian and Beverlee. Together, they lived in Beatrice, where Dennis was a manager for Tractor Supply Store. They moved to York in 1973, where he was a manager for Wheeler’s Store for several years before working for York Equipment for 27 years, retiring in 2004. Dennis was blessed with a second marriage to Rose Stewart on June 24, 2001, in Fairmont. In his spare time, Dennis enjoyed working on engines and building old cars, singing at various events and woodworking in his shed.
Survivors include his wife, Rose, Friend,; children and spouses, Brenda and Richard Gerken, Brad Melby and his fiancé, Jenn Kitt, Brian and Jody Melby, and Beverlee and Josh Dunham, all of York; step-daughter, Rondalin Wells; 12 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; brother and sister-in-law, Gary and Stephanie Melby, Surprise, Arizona; sisters, Nancy Hoden, San Marcus, California,, and Christy Vivian, Huntington Beach, California; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, John and JoAnn Stewart, Friend; nieces, nephews and a host of other relatives and friends. Dennis was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Moraine Hasbrouck; and an infant brother.
The funeral service was June 10 at the First Congregational Church in Friend. A private family inurnment service will be conducted at a later date at the Andrews Cemetery in Friend. Arrangements by Lauber Funeral and Cremation Services.
