Erna Melcher

Funeral Services for Erna Melcher, age 94, of Page, will be at 10:30 A.M., Monday, March 6, 2017, at the Page United Methodist Church.  Burial will be in the Page Cemetery.  Visitation will be Sunday, March 5, 2017, from 5-7 P.M. at Biglin’s Mortuary in O’Neill.  Erna passed away Tuesday, February 28, 2017, at the Alpine Village in Verdigre, NE. 

Erna Schwager Melcher was born on December 21, 1922, to Otto and Grace (Bridge) Schwager in Orchard, NE.  She was 1 of 7 children.  She attended grade school ½ mile from their home, and graduated from Orchard High School in 1939.  After graduation, she stayed at her parent’s farm home and helped with house work and cooking. 

Erna married Harold Melcher on March 11, 1942, in Neligh, NE.  She and Harold lived on the Melcher Ranch until Harold passed away in 2007. 

Erna remained on the ranch until April 2016, when she went to Alpine Village in Verdigre. 

Erna and Harold were blessed with 3 sons.  She kept busy by keeping up with the sons and their activities, along with Harold’s playing ball.  She enjoyed going to all the Hereford activities along with Harold and sons as they grew up showing all their Hereford calves.  She also enjoyed all the Hereford people who stopped in and looked at their Hereford cattle.

In later years, she was always outside, taking care of her yard and flowers.  She loved being with family and friends and, most of all, her grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Erna is survived by her 3 children; James Melcher and wife Susan of Papillion, NE, Thomas Melcher and wife Loraine of Hot Springs, AR, Donald Melcher and wife Jean of Page, NE, 6 grandchildren: Lisa Keyes and husband Kevin, Crystal Beissenherz and husband Jason, Kay Storck and husband Matt, Kevin Melcher and wife Sherry, Abby Jacobsen and husband Ryan, Matt Melcher and Fiancé Kristen, 9 great grandchildren, and one Sister-In-Law, Gladys Fink of Orchard. 

She was preceded in death by her husband Harold, her parents, 3 brothers, 3 sisters, and one grandson, Jay Dee Melcher.

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