Name/Title
Melting family: Arnt and Ingaborg (Krogness) Melting, early merchant in Halstad, MN, and in Blanchard, ND, and resident of Galesburg, NDEntry/Object ID
2026.32.1Description
This family history folder describes the lives of Arnt and Ingaborg (Krogness) Melting (see photos). This folder, available for view at the Plummer House Museum in Hillsboro, also contains a Melting family history as a printed pdf document.
As described in a brief biography published on pages 275 & 276 in the 1982 Galesburg Centennial book (see bio), Arnt and Ingeborg were both born in Norway. Arnt Melting was born on 27 December 1861 in Mosvika, Norway, and raised there [obit info]. In September 1888, Arnt Melting married Ingaborg Krogness just before they coming to America. Ingaborg Krogness was born on 20 May 1859 to Parents Anders and Ingeborg (Anderson) Krogness in Troyon, Norway. Arnt and Ingaborg settled near Halstad, Minnesota. Arnt had learned the butcher trade in Norway, and in Halstad had a half-share in a butcher shop. In the 1900 US Census taken on 16 June in Halstad Township in Norman County, MN, Arnt Melting was listed as being born in December 1862 and age 37 and Ingaborg Melting as being born in May 1859 and age 41. In this 1900 US Census, Arnt and Ingaborg were listed with five children: Andrew, John, Gina, Emil and Paul. However, we know from other records that by 1900 they also had a daughter Emma, who was not recorded with them in this census because Emma, age 10, was working as a servant (while a student) in the household of John and Olave Rue in the Village of Halstad, MN [1900 US Census data].
In 1905, Arnt and Ingaborg moved to Blanchard in Traill County, ND [obit info]. From 1910 US Census data, we know Arnt operated his own butcher shop. Tragically, a fire destroyed his shop and their home in Blanchard. Arnt repaired an empty building and reopened his butcher shop, but the Great Depression forced Arnt out of business.
In 1914, they moved to Galesburg in Traill County, ND [obit info]. From 1920 US Census data, we know that Arnt, age 58, and Ingaborg, age 60, owned a home in Galesburg and Arnt found work as a farm laborer. Arnt later worked with the local railroad, and even later as a janitor at the Galesburg School and the Elm River Church.
Arnt and Ingaborg had eight children, including Andrew, Emma, John, Gena, Emil, Paul, Otto and Ruth, who were all born in Minnesota [US Census data]. From records in Ancestry.com, Newspapers.com and US Find-a-Grave we know the following about these eight children:
Andrew Ingvold Melting was born on 18 October 1888 by or in Halstad, MN, and was baptized on 11 November 1888 into the Marsh River Lutheran Church located in Shelly in Norman County, MN [ELCA birth-baptism record]. Andrew was raised and schooled in Halstad. He was age 11 in the 1900 US Census taken on 16 June in Halstad Township in Norman County. In this 1900 census, Andrew was listed with his parents and four siblings, John, Gena, Emil, and Paul. In the 1910 US Census taken 17-18 May in Blanchard, ND, Andrew was recorded as age 21 and employed as a "butcher' in his father's shop. On 7 October 1911, Andrew Ingvold Melting married Blanche Warren at her parent's home in Mayville, ND [news, Fargo Forum, 31 Oct. 1911]. Blanche Warren was born on 2 July 1892 in New York but grew up in Mayville. When Andrew registered for the Draft in 1918 at age 28, he declared that his address was Blanchard in Traill County, ND, that he was married with two children, and that he was employed as a rural mail carrier out of the Blanchard Post Office. In the 1920 US Census for Blanchard, ND, taken on 15-16 January, Andrew (age 31) and Blanche (age 28) were recorded as residing on First Street, and were listed with three children: Kenneth (age 7), Russell Allen (age 4), and Harriet (6 months). In this 1920 census, Andrew was employed as a "Grain buyer" for the "Farmers elevator" in Blanchard. In 1925, Andrew and Blanche resided on 10th St. S in Fargo, where they celebrated their 11th wedding anniversary [Social Events, Fargo Forum, 6 Oct. 1925]. But by 1930, Andrew (age 41) and Blanche (age 39) were living in the town of Lansford in Bottineau County, ND, where Andrew was a "Butcher" in his own "Meat market" [1930 US Census data]. Lansford is located about 35 miles north of Minot, ND. Their son Kenneth Melting, was age 18, was employed as a "Mechanic" in an "Automobile garage" in Lansford. In this 1930 census, Russell was age 14 and Harriet was age 10. Interestingly, the 1940 US Census documents that Andrew Melting, age 52, was on his own in Drake, ND, staying in a hotel while employed as a "Salesman" selling "Successful Farming magazines". This 1940 census indicates that Andrew was also a guest of this Drake Hotel in 1935. Drake is located about 50 miles SE of Minot, ND. In 1940, Blanche was living with her daughter Harriet (age 20) in a rented house on 10th St. N in Fargo [1940 US Census data]. This 1940 census indicates that they were in Fargo in 1935 and that Harriet was employed as a "seamstress". On 27 April 1942, Andrew Melting, age 53, registered for the WWII draft in Devils Lake in Ramsey County, ND, he declared that his employed was Meriath Publ. Co., indicating he was still selling magazines. He gave his Place of Residence as Galesburg, ND, not Fargo where Blanche and Harriet lived. Evidently Andrew and Blanche had separated. The 1950 US Census documents that Blanche had moved to Harris St. in Manly in Worth County, IA, and lived with her sister Mabel (Warren) Peterson. Further, Andrew was not listed with Blanche in a 1960 City Directory for Mason City, IA. In this directory, Blanche was listed as "wid Andrew", that is a widow, but we know that in 1960 Andrew was still living in ND. Andrew had eventually moved to Fargo, ND, where he was employed in a grain elevator. Blanche (Warren) Melting died age 79 on 10 April 1972 at a nursing home in Mason City, Iowa [obituary info, Globe-Gazette, 12 Apr. 1972]. After services at Trinity Lutheran Church, in Mason City, Blanche was buried in Memorial Park Cemetery. Andrew lived to the age of 89, passing away on 14 August 1978 at St. Luke's Hospital in Fargo [ND Death Certif. info]. Andrew was interred in a Melting family plot in the Elm River Cemetery in Galesburg, ND [see grave-marker].
Emma Alfrida Melting was born 8 December 1889 in Norman County and was baptized on 12 January 1890 at the Augustana Lutheran Church in Halstad, MN [US ELCA birth-baptism record]. On 24 October 1904, Emma was Confirmed into the Marsh River Lutheran Church, Shelly, MN [US ELCA record]. In the 1910 US Census taken 27-28 May, Emma was listed with her parents and siblings in Blanchard, ND, and she was age 20 and employed as a "Housekeeper" and "Working out". Emma was recorded in another 1910 US Census taken earlier on 30 April in Fargo, ND, where she was employed as a "Maid" for a "Private family". In this census Emma was a maid in the household of J. H. and Mary Harbeck at 10th St. N. in Fargo. Emma Alfrida Melting married Benjamin Joseph 'Ben' Schwartz on 30 April 1912 in Clay County [MN Marriages]. Ben was born on 26 August 1889 in Brainerd, Minnesota. By the time the 1920 US Census was collected on 19 January, Ben (age 30) and Emma (age 30), were living on 5th Ave. in Brainerd, MN. Ben was employed as a "Sheet-metal worker" in the shops for "N. P." railroad. By 1920, Ben and Emma had three children, daughters Ruth Schwartz (age 7, born in ND) and Mary Schwartz (age 2 months) and son Joseph A. Schwartz (age 6) born in Brainerd, MN. Joseph was born on 29 December 1913 and tragically was killed by a train in Glasgow, MT, on 3 August 1938 at the age of only 23 [MT Death Certif.]. Sadly, on 29 May 1922, Ben and Emma had a daughter, Ann Elizabeth Schwartz, who died at the age of 9 month on 22 March 1923 in Brainerd [US FaG info]. When the 1930 US Census was collected in Brainerd on 10 April, Ben and Emma, and their three surviving children: Ruth, Joseph and Mary now resided in a rented home on C Street while Ben continued to work as a "sheet-metal worker" for N. P. railroad. In the 1940 US Census, Ben and Emma continued to live on C-St, and Ben continued with N. P. as a "Sheet-metal worker", but by 1940, only their daughter Mary (age 20, a student) remained at home. In the 1950 US Census, Ben and Emma (both age 60) continued to reside on C-St in Brainerd and Ben continued as a "Sheet-metal worker for N. P. railroad. Emma (Melting) Schwartz passed away, age 73, on 26 July 1963. Emma was interred at the Evergreen Cemetery located by Brainerd, Crow Wing County, MN [Grave-marker photo]. Emma's husband lived another ten years, passing away on 1 April 1973 in Brainerd and was interred next to Emma in Brainerd's Evergreen Cemetery.
John Oldius Melting was born on 8 April 1891 in Norman County, MN, and baptized on 31 May 1891 at the Augustana Church in Halstad, Norman County, ND [US ELCA record]. In the 1900 US Census, John was recorded as age 9. In the 1910 US Census taken in Blanchard, ND, John was recorded as age 19 and employed as a "Laborer" for the "Railroad", which ran N-S through Blanchard. At age 26 when John registered for the WWI draft on 5 June 1917, he declared on his card that his home address was Galesburg, ND, and that he was now employed as a "Farm Laborer" on the "S. S. Willison Farm" in Bohnsack Township in Traill County. John was single and described as Tall with blue eyes and dark brown hair. On 10 May 1918, John enlisted in the US Army at Hillsboro and served in the 8th Ammunition Train, Co. D, until being honorably discharged on 27 February 1919 at Camp Dodge, IA [US Headstones for Military Vets. data]. In the 1920 US Census, John was now residing in Fargo in the home of his cousin, Alfred Melting and his family, who lived on 7th Ave. South. In 1920, John was still single, age 28, and was employed as a "Brakeman" on the "R.R." based in Fargo. By the time of the 1925 ND Census taken in the City of Casselton in Cass County, John Melting, age 34, was now married to Lydia Plonsky, age 32. Lydia Dorthea Plonsky was born on 12 October 1893 to parents Emil and Dorathea (Haberkorn) Plonsky in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. The 1930 US Census documents that John and Lydia worked on the Edwin and Margaret Patterson farm in Lake Township in Cass County near Page, ND. John was a "Laborer" and Lydia was a "Servant" on the Patterson farm. By 1932, John Melting and Lydia and lived on 3rd Ave. South in Fargo, while John worked as a "hlpr" at "Armour & Co" [1932 US City Directory]. In the 1940 US Census, John Melting, age 49, and Lydia, age 46, now lived in a rented house on 2nd Avenue in Wahpeton, ND, while John worked as a "Switchman" on the "Railroad". This 1940 census documented that in 1935, John and Lydia lived in Fargo. This is confirmed by a 1938 City Directory for Fargo, which documents that John and Lydia Melting lived on 1st Ave S in Fargo, and John was employed as a brakeman with the Great Northern Railroad. Interestingly, John's sister-in-law, Blanche (Mrs. Andrew Melting) was also in the household at 1st Ave S, along with her three children, Kenneth, Russell and Harriet. In the 1950 US Census, John was still working as a railroad switchman, but was now a "Forman", and John, age 58, and Lydia, age 56, were now living on 7th St. North in Breckenridge, Wilkin County, MN. John O. Melting passed away on 19 September 1958, age 67, in Breckenridge, and was interred in its Riverside Cemetery [US FaG info; no grave-marker photo]. Lydia Dorthea (Plonsky) Melting passed away, age 75, on 6 January 1969 in Wilkin County, MN and was interred next to John at the Riverside Cemetery at Breckenridge, MN [US FaG info; no grave-marker photo].
Gena Bertina Melting was born on 23 October 1892 in Norman County, MN. In the 1900 US Census, Gena was listed as age 7. In the 1910 US Census, Gena was listed as age 16 and was employed as a "Maid" in a "Private home". Gena Bertina Melting married Harry Eugene Johnson in 1912. Harry was born on 23 December 1889 in Detroit Lakes, MN, to parents Frank and Mary Ann (Copas) Johnson. After Harry and Gena married, they evidently first went west to Shelby, Toole County, Montana, where their first child, daughter Edith Ruth Johnson, was born on 13 April 1913 [Ancestry.com, Johnson/Simmons Family Tree, info]. But in 1914 Harry and Gena, and Edith, returned to eastern North Dakota, where their sons Walter E. and Frank A. Johnson were born on 14 January 1915 and 18 March 1917 in Blanchard, ND, respectively. Then later in 1917, they went north and homesteaded land near Scots Guard, and the City of Shaunavon, in Saskatchewan, Canada, where they farmed for six years. Harry and Gena's sons Eugene John Elmer Johnson (b. 30 Jan. 1919) and Ralph Lyle Johnson (b. 6 Nov. 1921), and daughter Lenora L. Johnson (b. 20 Nov. 1922), were born in Shaunavon [Johnson/Simmons Family Tree data]. In 1923, Harry and Gena left Saskatchewan and went back to Toole County, Montana [news, Shelby Tribune, 14 Jan 1947]. Harry and Gena had three sons in Shelby, Wilfred G. Johnson (b. 2 Dec. 1925), Raymond A. Johnson (b. 22 Mar. 1928) and Harry Leroy Johnson (b. 6 Dec. 1936). In the 1930 US Census, Harry and Gena were farming in the Oakes and Fairview School District in Toole County, MT. They were renting their farm and were listed with eight children, including Edith R., Walter E., Frank A., Eugene J. E., Ralph L., Lenore L., Wilfred G., and Raymond A. By the 1940 US Census, Harry and Gena had moved into a home they owned on 1st St. S in the City of Shelby, MT. Harry was employed locally as a farm laborer. In this 1940 census, Harry and Gina were listed with six children: Walter E., Eugene J. E., Lenore L., Wilfred G., Raymond A., and LeRoy H. Johnson. By 1940, Edith, Frank and Ralph had left home. In total, Harry and Gena had nine children, Edith R., Walter E., Frank A., Eugene J. E., Ralph L., Lenore L., Wilfred G., Raymond A., and Harry LeRoy Johnson. Notably, five of their children: Walter, Eugene, Ralph, Lenora, and Wilford served in WWII [news, Shelby Tribune, 6 Jul. 1944]. Resided on 7th Ave S in Shelby. Harry E. Johnson died, age 55, after an oil drilling rig accident on 1 August 1945 in Toole County, MT [news, Shelby Tribune, 2 Aug. 1945]. A combined memorial service was held at the Lutheran Church for Harry, and for his son Walter Melting who died in action serving the US Army in WWII in the Philippines [news, Shelby Tribune, 9 Aug. 1945]. Harry was interred in Mountain View Cemetery in Shelby [US FaG info]. Gena lived to the age of 92, passing away on 26 January 1985 at the Toole County Hospital in Shelby [MT Death Certif.]. Gena was buried next to Harry in the Mountain View Cemetery in Shelby [US FaG info, see grave-site monument].
Emil Parelius Melting was born 16 March 1894 in Halstad, MN. In the 1900 US Census for Halstad, Emil was recorded as age 5 and as age 10 in the 1905 MN Census for the Village of Halstad. Emil was age 15 in the 1910 US Census and 21 in the 1915 ND Census for Blanchard, ND. When Emil registered on 5 June 1917 at age 23 for possible military service in WWI, he declared on his card that he resided in Blanchard and was married with one child. Emil stated on his card that he was employed as "Station Agent" for the Great Northern Railroad. Emil was described as of medium build, slender, and with blue eyes and light hair.
Emil Parelius Melting married Hazel M. Rogers on 30 October 1915 in Traill County, ND. Hazel was born in Morris, Stevens County, MN, on 20 February 1894 to parents William and Maggie (McKibben) Rogers, where in 1900 William served as Hunter, ND, Postmaster [1900 US Census info]. In the 1910 US Census, Hazel was age 18 and at home in Hunter, ND, with her parents and siblings. By the time of the 1920 US Census, Emil and Hazel were renting a house in Moorhead, MN, while Emil worked as a "Salesman" for a "Grocery" and while Hazel raised two daughters, Margaret (age 3) and Helen (age 2). In about 1922, Hazel successfully filed for divorce from Emil [Cass County Court record]. Hazel M. (Rogers) Melting then married James Laing in August 1924 in Sisseton, SD. A stepdaughter, Betty Laing, was raised by Hazel along with Margaret and Helen. In the 1930 US Census, James and Hazel, and daughters Margaret, Helen and Betty, resided in a rented house on 4th St in Wahpeton, ND, while James was employed as a "Conductor" with Great Northern Railroad. By 1934, James and Hazel had moved to an apartment on 1st Ave. N in Fargo, while James continued to work as a Conductor for the Great Northern Railroad [1934 Fargo City Directory]. After her husband James died in 1939, Hazel continued to reside in their home on 3rd Ave. S in Breckenridge, MN [1940 US Census info]. By 1950, Hazel had moved to Minneapolis, MN, where at age 55, she worked as a clerk in a department store. Helen later moved to Wisconsin to be near her daughter Margaret. In 1972, Hazel move to Sauk Centre, MN, where she passed away on 16 June 1988, age 94, after seven years in at St. Michael's Nursing Home [obituary, St. Cloud Times, 17 June 1988]. Hazel (Rogers) Laing was interred in the Greenwood Cemetery in Sauk Centre, MN [US-FaG info]. It is unclear what became of Emil Parelius Melting after his divorce from Hazel in about 1922. We know that by 1923, Emil had wandered off to California because he registered to vote in San Francisco while residing on Ellis St. Interestingly, the 1925 San Francisco City Directory listed an Emil P Melting employed as a Dept. Manager at J. E. French Co. This directory also noted that Emil lived with a "Nianette" living on 11th Ave and the1926 San Francisco City Directory again listed an Emil P Melting with a "Nianette" but residing on O'Farrell St. Did Emil remarry? Probably not because the 1929 San Francisco City Directory lists Emil Melting without a "Nianette" and Emil is now employed as a salesman for Singer Sewing Machine Co and residing Octavia St. Then, on 16 January 1932, the Oakland Tribune reported that "After being sought for two years, Emil P. Melting, 39, former automobile salesman in Berkeley, is being held today for passing a worthless check". Also, the Tulare Daily Times reported that an Emil Melting, age 39, who was employed at an EarliMart, was being detained in Tulare County jail for issuing bad checks. A Sheriff's Jail Register recorded an E. P. Melting was held beginning 14 January 1932 after being arrested in Berkeley, CA. From there, the trail goes cold.
Paul Olaf Melting was born 21 July 1898 in Norman County, MN. In the 1900 US Census, Paul was listed as age 1 and in the 1905 MN Census taken in Halstad, MN, Paul was age 6. In the 1910 US Census taken in Blanchard, ND, Paul was listed as age 11, and in the 1915 ND Census he was age 18 at the time of the census. By the time the 1920 US Census was taken on 20 January, Paul Melting, age 22, had married Ruth A. Henry, age 20. They had married in October 1917 [news, Fargo Forum, 2 Nov. 1917]. Ruth Alberta Henry was born on 18 May 1899 in Murrayville in Morgan County, Illinois. In the 1920 census, Paul and Ruth had a daughter Grace E. Melting, age 1 year and 3 months. Paul, Ruth and daughter Grace were listed in the household of Ruth's parents, Robert and Elizabeth Henry, who farmed in Blanchard Township in Traill County. Paul's occupation was recorded as "Farm Laborer" but "Working out", indicating he was doing farm work at neighboring farms. When the 1930 US Census was taken on 4 April, Paul (age 31) and Ruth (age 29) now farmed rented land in Erie Township in Cass County, ND. In this 1930 census, they had four children: Grace (age 11), Eugene (age 9), Donald (age 8) and Robert (age 4). In the 1940 US Census, Paul, age 43, and Ruth, age 40, and their sons Eugene (age 20), Donald (age 18) and Robert (age 14) Melting were residing in a rented home in the town of Hunter, ND, located in northern Cass County. Paul was graveling roads while Eugene and Donald were working as farm laborers. By the 1950 US Census, Paul, age 52, and Ruth, age 50, were living in Lakeville in Dakota County, MN, which is a suburb 25 miles south of Minneapolis. In this 1950 census, Paul and Ruth were listed with two grandchildren, Janice and Dennis Stenson, in their household, who were children of their daughter Grace (Melting) Stenson. Seven years after this 1950 census, Paul Olaf Melting died, age 58, on 12 May 1957, and was interred in Lakeville Grove Cemetery [US FaG, see grave-marker]. Ruth (Henry) Melting lived another 20 years, passing away on 3 July 1977 at age 78. Ruth was interred next to Paul in the Lakeville Grove Cemetery.
Otto Johannis Melting was born on 16 February 1901 in Norman County [MN Birth Index]. In the 1910 US Census, Otto was recorded as age 9 and with his parents and siblings in Blanchard, Traill County, ND, where his father Arnt Melting was a butcher. When Otto registered for WWI on 12 September 1918 at age 18 with the local board for Traill County in Hillsboro, ND, he gave his address as Galesburg, ND, where he was employed at the grain elevator. On his registration card, Otto was described as 5'8" in height, of slender build and with blue eyes and dark brown hair. When the 1920 US Census was taken on 10 January in Galesburg Township, Otto was listed as age 19 and at "Labour" on a "Farm", as was his father Arnt Melting at age 68. In 1928, Otto was living in Brainerd, MN, as the Daily Dispatch newspaper reported on 18 September 1928 that "Miss Dorothy Johnson of Minneapolis, who has been visiting in the home of Otto Melting over the weekend, returned to her home yesterday". Dorothy Virginia Johnson was born on 20 March 1907 in Brainerd, MN to parents Andrew and Jenny (Bye) Johnson. By the 1930 US Census taken on 9 April, Otto was age 30 and had married Dorothy Johnson, age 23. They lived in a rented house on Simon Ave in St Paul, Ramsey County, MN, while Otto was recorded as a "Salesman" of "Electric appliances" and Dorothy as a "Stenographer" at a "Brewery". By 1933, Otto and Dorothy were in a house on Duke St. in St Paul, while Dorothy was a stenographer at Jacob Schmit Brewing Co. and Otto was a salesman [1933 City Directory]. In the 1940 US Census, Otto, age 39, and Dorothy, age 33, continued to reside on Duke St. in St Paul. In this 1940 census, Otto was a "Bartender" at a "Restaurant" and Dorothy was a "Switchboard operator" at a "Brewery". Otto registered for the WWII Draft at age 41 on 16 February 1942 in St Paul, MN. He gave his address as Duke St. and that he was employed by J. A. Miesen on Jackson St. in St Paul. A notice by the Northern Pacific Railway Co., documents that beginning on 12 June 1944, Otto was employed as Machinists Helper in Brainerd, MN, but about four months later on 26 October 1944, Otto "resigned to accept other employment". By 1950, Otto, age 49, and Dorothy, age 42, had moved to Elk Point in Union County, SD. Elk Point is located along the Missouri River about 45 miles east of Yankton, SD. In this 1950 census, Otto was listed as a "Merchant" in the "Hardware" business. They managed a Marshall-Wells hardware store in El Point from 1946 to 1956 [obit info]. In 1956 they moved back to St. Paul, where Dorothy worked as a private secretary at Univac. In 1972, Otto and Dorothy returned to her hometown of Brainerd, MN, where Otto Johanis Melting passed away, age 75, on 15 May 1976. Otto was interred in the Evergreen Cemetery, Crow Wing County, MN [see grave-marker]. Dorothy V. (Johnson) Melting lived to the age of 92, passing away at the Bethany Samaritan Village in Brainerd on 1 August 1999. Dorothy was interred next to Otto at Evergreen Cemetery [see grave-marker].
Ruth Miranda Melting was born on 29 August 1904 in Norman County [MN Birth Index]. Ruth was age 5 in the 1910 US Census taken in May in Blanchard, ND. We know that by 1919, Ruth was living in Galesburg, Traill County, ND, because Ruth was confirmed into the Elm River Lutheran Church in Galesburg on 21 December 1919 [US ELCA Record]. In the 1920 US Census, collected on 10 January, Ruth was 15 and living with her parents, Arnt and Ingaborg, and older brother Otto, In Galesburg. In the 1925 ND Census for Traill County, Ruth was recorded as residing with her parents and siblings in Greenfield Township. At the age of 24, Ruth Miranda Melting married Walter Julius Walstad on 31 May 1929 in Clay County [MN Marriages]. Walter was born on 9 May 1902 in Two Harbors in Lake County, MN; Two Harbors is located on the north shore of Lake Superior about 30 miles northeast of Duluth, MN. After Walter and Ruth married, they lived in a rented house on Selden St. in the City of Flint in Genesee County, Michigan [1930 US Census]. Walter was working as a "Toolmaker" in an "Auto Factory". In the 1930 census, taken on 11 April, a son Irving Arnt Walstad was recorded as age 3 and as being born in New York [an error, see 1940 & 1950 census data]. In August 1930, Walter and Ruth had another son [news of births, The Flint Journal, 21 Aug. 1930]. However, sadly, this son, Walter Julius Walstad Jr., who was born on 17 Aug. 1930 only lived for 8 months and 4 days, dying of Pneumonia on 23 April 1931 [MI Death Certif.]. Walter Jr. was interred at Grace Lawn Cemetery in Flint. By 1934, Walter, Ruth and Irving had moved to Cottage Grove Ave in Flint [1934 US City Directory]. In the 1940 US Census, Walter and Ruth's surviving son Irving Walstad, age 13, was recorded as being born in North Dakota. In the 1940 census, Walter was age 39 and Ruth was age 35, and they resided in a rented house on Cottage Grove Ave in the City of Flint, where Walter was employed as a "Dye maker" in "Auto mfg". In the 1950 US Census, Walter J. was listed as age 47, Ruth M. as age 45, and son Irving A., age 23, and born in ND. Walter's occupation was recorded as "Tool & Die maker" in "Auto Mfg.", and Irving's as a "Material supplier" in "Auto body mfg." Ruth (Melting) Walstad died at the age of 55 on 17 April 1960 at the McLaren General Hospital in Flint, MI [see obituary from The Flint Journal, 18 Apr. 1960]. Ruth had lived in Flint for 31 years. After funeral services held at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Flint, Ruth was interred at Sunset Hills Cemetery [no US FaG grave-marker photo]. Walter Julius Walstad Sr. lived to the age of 84, passing away on 28 May 1987 at St. Joseph Hospital in Flint [obit, The Flint Journal, 31 Mar. 1987]. Walter had worked for Chevrolet Motors in Flint for over 42 years before retiring. Walter was interred in Sunset Hills Cemetery in Flint [US FaG info; no grave-marker photo].
On Sunday 4 August 1946, Arnt and Ingaborg Melting celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary with family at their home [see news, Hillsboro Banner, 9 Aug. 1946, and The Fargo Forum, 27 Oct. 1946].
Ingaborg (Krogness) Melting passed away, age 88, on 20 June 1947 at home in Galesburg Township, Traill County [see ND Death Certif. data]. Funeral services for Ingaborg were held at the Elm River Lutheran Church in Galesburg [see obituary]. Ingaborg was interred in the Elm River Cemetery in Galesburg [see grave-marker].
Arnt lived to the age of 86, passing away on 5 December 1948 at the Community Hospital in Mayville, ND [see ND Death Certif. data]. Arnt had lived in Galesburg, ND, for 34 years [see obituary, Fargo Forum, 7 Dec. 1948]. He was a devote Christian and Arnt had helped organize Lutheran churches in Halstad and Blanchard and was active in the Elm River Lutheran Church in Galesburg. At the time of his death, Arnt Melting had 18 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren. After funeral services held at the Elm River Lutheran Church in Galesburg, Arnt was interred next to Ingaborg in the Elm River Cemetery [see grave-marker].Acquisition
Accession
2026.32Source or Donor
Terry Parker, Traill County Historical SocietyLocation
* Untyped Location
Resource RoomBuilding
Plummer House
