Melfred G. Venske

Melfred G. Venske, 93 year old resident of Little Falls, MN passed away Monday, October 17, 2016 at St. Gabriel’s Hospital in Little Falls. Funeral service will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, October 22, 2016 at the Shelley Funeral Chapel in Little Falls, MN with Bob Mueller officiating. Burial will take place in the Randall City Cemetery in Randall, MN. A visitation will be held from 4-8 P.M. on Friday and from 10-11 A.M. on Saturday at the Shelley Funeral Chapel in Little Falls, MN. Funeral arrangements are with the Shelley Funeral Chapel in Little Falls, MN. Melfred was born on February 9, 1923 in Lester Prairie, MN to the late Gust and Elizabeth (Karls) Venske. The family moved to Randall, MN in 1927 and Melfred attended Country School. He later attended NVA Trade School in Glenwood, MN where he learned the trade of welding. Melfred worked as a welder for 2 years in Bremerton, WA and in 1945 he enlisted into the US Navy. While in the Navy he worked in a construction battalion, building bases on the English Channel. He was united in marriage to Geneva Copley on July 18, 1945 at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Randall, MN. Melfred was later honorably discharged from the Navy on December 5, 1945 and returned to Randall, MN. He bought a farm near Little Falls in 1946. He contracted polio that fall and was hospitalized for nine months. After being hospitalized he returned to the farm and continued farming until 1981 when he retired. In 1985 he was elected Morrison County Commissioner and served for eight years. Melfred was a member of the Randall VFW, Little Falls D.A.V. and St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Randall, MN. He was also an officer of Pike Creek Township for 27 years, served on the board of directors for Elmdale Mutual Insurance Company, State of Minnesota Association of Township offices, Lutheran Care Center and the Morrison County Farm Office. Melfred is survived by son, Richard (Joyce) Venske of San Antonio, TX; daughter, Diane Rosky of Coon Rapids, MN; sister, Donna Hain of Worthington, MN; sisters-in-law, Jeanette Schwanke of Randall, MN and Millie (DeWayne) Schwanke of Little Falls, MN; four grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren. Melfred was preceded in death by wife, Geneva; parents, Gust and Elizabeth Venske; brothers, Marvin, Virgil, Curtis, Vernon and Myron; sisters, Viola Sanders and Betty Peterson, Elvera Petrich, Ila Woodworth and Doris Anderson.

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Melfred G. Venske

February 9, 1923 - October 17, 2016