Carol Marie Melby

Carol Melby, 81, of Greenbush, MN passed away on May 14, 2026 at Cherrywood Advanced Living, St. Cloud, MN. A funeral service will be held on Friday, May 22, 2026 at United Free Lutheran Church, 845 Old Ridge Road, Greenbush, MN at 1:00 pm with visitation 1 hr. prior. Interment to follow at Pauli Lutheran Cemetery, rural Greenbush. 

Carol Marie (Olmstead) Melby, 81, passed away May14, 2026. She was the wife of Robert (Bob) Melby for 60 years.

Carol was born February 8, 1945 in Roseau, MN to Ernest and Cora (Swanson) Olmstead. After the death of her mother at a young age, the family relocated to Badger, MN.  She attended school in Badger.  Due to family turmoil she was placed in foster care with Lawrence and Helen Majer and transferred to Greenbush High School, graduating in 1964. After High School, Carol attended the Thief River Falls AVTI for secretarial training and graduated in 1965.Carol was united in marriage to Robert W. Melby on April 2, 1966 at Poplar Grove Lutheran Church rural Greenbush. Together they raised two children, Mark W. Melby of Greenbush and Cynthia (Cindy) Moran of St. Cloud, MN.

Lawrence and Helen Majer and their family were a blessing to Carol. They played a pivotal role in her late teens and early adult life by providing a stable home environment, educational opportunity and life skills.  Carol thrived under the Majer’s care and she often lovingly recounted details of how Helen, Lawrence, Gretchen and Harold Wold guided her development.  

Carol was active in operating the family farm west of Greenbush. She spent many years milking cows and other farm work, as well as gardening, canning, cooking and sewing. Many home cooked hot meals were delivered to the fields during seeding and harvest so the “guys” could continue working.  After selling the dairy cattle Carol had a home daycare which she enjoyed.  In their later years together Carol and Bob moved to a house in Greenbush and enjoyed a winter home in south Texas. Eventually Carol’s health deteriorated to the point she could no longer live independently and she was moved to Cherrywood Advanced Living in St. Cloud, MN to receive the care she needed.  Her time in St. Cloud allowed frequent interaction with her daughter Cindy and grandson John. Although Carol enjoyed all her life experiences, she preferred country life on the farm with her family and her pets.

Fellowship with the community was important to Carol.  She valued membership at United Free Lutheran Church,serving in church groups, teaching Sunday School and Vacation Bible School. 

Carol is survived by her husband Robert, son Mark Melby, daughter Cynthia (Manuel) Moran, grandson John Moran, siblings Eugene (Rose) Olmstead and MaryAnn Walen, godchildren Sara Melby and Kailey Melby, as well as many brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Carol was preceded in death by her parents Ernest and Cora Olmstead, siblings Leroy Swanson, Joan Swanson, infant brother Olmstead, Rebecca (Olmstead) Melby, and Debra Ann (Olmstead) Conley.  Father-in-law Clarence E. Melby, mother-in-law Glendora (Wilson) Melby and other sister-in-laws and brother-in-laws from the Melby and Olmstead families.

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