Ralph Melbie

Ralph "Buster" A. Melbie, age 78, of Spicer, died Sunday evening, Feb. 24, at the V.A. Hospital in St. Cloud following an extended illness.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00 A.M. on Thursday, Feb. 28, at Hope Presbyterian Church in Spicer with Pastor Andrew Crandall officiating. Interment will be at the Oak Hill Cemetery in New London. Visitation will be from 5-8 P.M. on Wednesday, Feb. 27, at the Green Lake Funeral Home in Spicer and will continue for one hour prior to the service at the church on Thursday.
Buster was born on October 27, 1929, in Spicer, Minnesota, the son of Arthur and Ella (Ardoff) Melbie. He grew up and received his education in the Spicer community. From 1951 to 1955, he served overseas in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He lived in New York and moved to Minnesota in 1975. Buster was employed for a brief time as a police officer in Minneapolis and then was employed as a truck driver for several construction companies in the New London-Spicer area. In 1977, he moved to the Jeffers-Windom area and was employed as an OTR truck driver. In 1983, he returned to Spicer and continued driving truck and was later self-employed with C & B Lawn Service in the Spicer area. He was a member of the New London American Legion Post. Buster enjoyed fishing, playing horse shoes and card games and spending time with his family and friends. He was also an avid Minnesota Vikings fan.
He is survived by his eight children, David Melbie of New York, Cindy Melbie of Texas, Gayle Dean of Spicer, Wesley Melbie of New York, Ralph Melbie, Jr., of Spicer, Elizabeth (and Dave) Hodge of New York, Lucy Edwards of Spicer and Tami Melbie of Jeffers; eighteen grandchildren and three great grandchildren. Also surviving is a brother, Vernon (and Ardis) Melbie of Brooklyn Center, besides other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters, LaVonne and June.