Melva Ella Bornholdt was born December 20, 1917 to Henry and Amanda Bornholdt in Alvord, IA. She was baptized and confirmed. She moved to Clinton, MN, then to Thief River Falls, MN when she was a senior in high school.

Melva married Carl Edwin Lee on March 4, 1939 in Thief River Falls, MN. The couple lived in Thief River Falls raising their family. They owned Lee Plumbing and Heating, where she worked the first few years of their marriage.

She was active in church, bowling and birthday club and caring for her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren-the loves of her life.

Melva is survived by one son, Larry (Cheryl) Lee, Thief River Falls, MN; two daughters, Shirley (Jim) Palmer, Minneapolis, MN; Susan (Bruce) Nelson, Webster, MN, five grandchildren, LaDonna Golden, Derek Lee, Jared Lee, Jennifer Cummings and Trevor Lee; four great grandchildren, Kathryn Ingalls, Zachary Lee, Breanna Lee and Jessica Golden; two sisters, Florence Holt, Arlington, VA and Vivian Carter, Salem, OR and two brothers, Donald Bornholdt, Brooklyn Center, MN and Derald Bornholdt, CA.

She was preceded in death by husband Carl in 1996.

Melva Lee, 86, died Friday, March 26, 2004 at Regions Hospital, St. Paul, MN.

ORGANIST: Ida Nordvall
SOLOIST: Leslie Swanson
SELECTIONS: What A Wonderful World , I Can Only Imagine and On Eagles Wings
CONGREGATIONAL HYMN Amazing Grace :
PALLBEARERS: Grandchildren, LaDonna Golden, Steve Golden, Derek Lee, Stacy Lee, Jared Lee, Megan Marino, Jennifer Cummings, Trevor Lee and Sarah Lee
EULOGIST: Granddaughter Jennifer Cummings