Melva Olivia Dittberner Dittberner Struckmann

Struckmann, Melva Olivia Dittbenner Melva Olivia Dittbenner was born to Hulda (Rhode) and Robert C. Dittbenner on February 2, 1918 at in Eden township, Brown County, Minn. Melva was baptized and confirmed at Zion Lutheran Church in Eden Township, Minn. She graduated from High school in Morgan, Minn. in 1936. Melva married Clarence W. Struckmann on Nov. 17, 1941 at Zion Lutheran Church in Morgan, Minn. Kathleen Joy was born in New Ulm, Minn., June 1, 1943. Following WWII and watchmakers apprenticeship in Springfield, Minn, they bought a jewelry store in Appleton, Minn. She established one of the first Bridal Registries in Minn. The store was sold in 1964. Melva was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Appleton. Stocking Lake at Park Rapids, Minn. became her home in 1978 where another jewelry store was established. She moved from the lake to Heritage Manor in Park Rapids in 2000. In 2004 she moved to Scandia Shores in Shoreview, Minn. Melva was a member of South Shore Trinity Lutheran Church in White Bear Lake, Minn. Declining health dictated a move to The Gables at Boutwells Landing on her 92nd birthday in 2010. Melva died at age 93, April 7, 2011. She is survived by her daughter, Kathleen (Eugene) Johnson of White Bear Lake, Minn., grandchildren, Julie (Craig) Johnson, Fargo, No. Dak., Cameron (Michelle) Johnson, White Bear Lake, Minn., Stephanie (Dr. Charles) Orr, Winona, Minn., Carter (Amy) Johnson, Osceola, Wisc., great grandchildren, Lindsay (Paul) Schneider, Brooklyn Park, Minn. Meredith Johnson, Palm Springs, Calif., Blake Johnson, St. Louis Park, Minn, Abigail and Kellen Johnson, Osceola, Wisc. and great-great grandson, Connor Schneider, Brooklyn Park, Minn. She was preceded in death by her parents Robert and Hulda Dittbenner, sister, Bessie, and brother Arvid. Services will be held to celebrate Melva’s life on Thursday, April 14 at South Shore Trinity Lutheran Church, White Bear Lake, Minn. Public visitation at 2 p.m., Memorial Service at 3 p.m.. Interment will be at Lake Emma cemetery near Park Rapids, Minn. at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 16, 2011 Arrangements by Lake Mortuary, White Bear Lake, Minn.