Melvin Edmund Hagen, 95, of Grygla, MN passed away Saturday, February 4, 2017 at the Thief River Care Center.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM on Sunday, February 19, 2017 at Grace Lutheran Church, Grygla with Pastor Vicki Saude-Worthington officiating.

Visitation will be held at 1:00 to 2:00 PM Sunday, February 19, 2017 at Grace Lutheran Church, Grygla.

Military honors provided by the members of the Grygla and Thief River Falls Veterans of Foreign Wars Posts and the Minnesota Army National Guard Honor Guard.

Burial will be in the spring at Northwood Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the VFW or Northwood Cemetery.

Melvin Edmund Hagen was born March 23, 1921 to Arne and Kornelia (Ostrem) Hagen at home in Northwood Township rural Grygla. He was baptized and confirmed at Northwood Church. He attended Hanson Grade School through eighth grade.

Melvin was a happy and wiry kid with a quick wit who liked playing pranks on his friends and neighbors. He enjoyed using a "speed bag" and playing catch with his brothers. He worked on the family farm leaving in 1938 to work with the Civilian Conservation Corps in the Cass Lake area. He enlisted in the Navy in 1941 and was part of the Normandy Invasion during WWII. After being honorably discharged on January 23, 1946 he returned to the family farm.

Several years later, Melvin began work as a dragline and crane operator. He was employed by Industrial Builders of Fargo and Herb Holthusen Construction of Grygla. In July of 1958 while working on the Garrison Dam Project of ND, he contracted encephalitis which required several lengthy stays in area hospitals. The damaging effects of the illness made him less independent.

In 2013 Melvin was admitted to the Thief River Care Center. He received excellent care and enjoyed the good meals and frequent visits from family and friends.

Melvin is survived by two brothers Otto Hagen and Norris Hagen both of rural Grygla, MN; one sister Miranda Skaaren of Bemidji, MN; special friend Harriet Kiesow of Thief River Falls, MN; numerous nieces and nephews.

Melvin was preceded in death by his parents; one brother Oscar Hagen; five sisters Inga Ulla, Clara Boe, Alma Svenpladsen, Benora Falk, and Lila Holthusen; nieces Elaine, Donna, Lillian, Marion; nephews Noralf, Odvin, Milo, and Paul; several brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.

Family condolences may be sent to www.johnsonfuneralservice.com