Earl Melvie, 80, of Thief River Falls, MN passed away on Saturday, February 14, 2015 at Oakland Park Nursing Home in Thief River Falls, MN surrounded by his loving family. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, February 18, 2015 from 4 - 8 PM with a 7:00 PM prayer service at Johnson Funeral Service in Thief River Falls, MN. Private family funeral will be held at 10:00 AM on Thursday, February 19, 2015 at Johnson Funeral Service in Thief River Falls with Pastor Ben Wattenphul officiating. Burial will be held at Folden Cemetery rural Newfolen, MN. Earl James Melvie was born May 29, 1934 at Bemidji, MN son of Elias and Judith (Skaug) Melvie. Earl was baptized at Trinity Lutheran Church and the First Baptist Church in Thief River Falls, MN. He attended grade school and graduated from Lincoln High School in 1953 and attended Vocational School in Thief River Falls. On June 11, 1955 Earl was united in marriage to Janice Sorenson at Salem Lutheran Church rural Oklee, MN. The couple moved to Seattle, WA for one year and then returned to Thief River Falls where he went to work for the Soo Line Railroad, retiring in 1977. Following his retirement Earl took care of the grounds at the Sportsmen's Club. He enjoyed feeding the birds at home and also had bird feeders along the trail near the college. He spent many hours walking his and his family's dogs. Earl always had a motorcycle and enjoyed working on cars. Earl was a member of the United Transportation Union and the First Baptist Church in Thief River Falls, MN. Earl is survived by his wife of 60 years Janice Melvie of Thief River Falls, MN; children Kjell (Dawn) Melvie of Spearfish, SD, Keith (Callie) Melvie of Thief River Falls, MN, Kay (Jim) Tesch of Goodridge, MN, Kari Grafstrom of Blaine, MN, Kim Nelson of Woodbury, MN and Kathi Abel of Champlin, MN: grandchildren Kirsten (Josh) LaRoche, Shayne (Allison) Melvie, Eli Melvie, Josie (Shane) Melvie, Jamie (Luke) Dale, Adam Grafstrom, Nicolas Grafstrom, Hans (Kyleigh) Grafstrom, Kimberly (Devin) Grafstrom, Bethany (Dan Neibhur) Nelson, Michael Nelson, Ryan Nelson, Alexandra Nelson, Daniel Peppin, Rebekka Abel, Lauren Abel: Great-grandchildren Gillian, Lillian, Cedric, Odin, Jordyn, Brenden, Rueben, Conor, Emma, Samuel, Lars, Nicoli, Pearl, Daniella, Ava, Jack. Sisters Betty (Clarence) Hanson of Fargo, ND, Gloria (Boyce) Lee of Thief River Falls, MN and Janice (Arvid) Lee of Thief River Falls, MN along with many nieces, nephews and cousins. Sisters-in-law Corlan Kleinschmidt of Oklee, MN and Wavell Sorenson of Plummer, MN. He is preceded in death by his parents, brothers Robert Melvie, infant brother Earl James Melvie, 3 grandchildren infant twin girls and infant Bobby Peppin.