Melba Ridgway, 91, of Avon

Funeral services are 11 AM, Saturday, November 19, 2011 at the First Presbyterian Church in Avon. Burial is in the Trinity Presbyterian Cemetery, rural Avon. Visitation will be Friday at the church from 5 PM to 8 PM, with the family present. Crosby-Jaeger Funeral Chapel in Avon is in charge of arrangements.

Minnie Melba Ridgway was born June 13, 1920 at Lampasas, TX, the daughter of Charles and Lessie (Reeder) Nance. She died Tuesday, November 15, 2011 at the Good Samaritan Society in Tyndall, SD. Melba attained the age of 91 years, five months and two days.

Melba graduated from Stevenville High School in Stevenville, TX in 1938.

Melba married Richard "Dick" Ridgway on March 20, 1945 at Lampasas, TX. They moved to South Dakota in 1946. Together they farmed near Avon. In 1965, Melba started working at the Tyndall Good Samaritan Society and worked there until 1977.

Melba was a baptized member of the Baptist Church in TX.

Melba will be remembered for her enjoyment of gardening, reading, making quilts, crocheting and watching birds. She was a very good cook.

Thankful for having shared her life are her 11 children: June (Darrell) Ekeren of Mission Hill; Linda Greger of Wagner; Barb (Garry) Johnson of Yankton; Sandy (Bruce) Schweitzer of Scotland; David of Virginia Beach, VA; Ray (Kathy) of Avon; Robert (Tammie) of Avon; Janice (Larry) Vanderlei of Springfield; Gloria (Ted) Sauers of Mitchell; Brenda (Brian) Martin of Mitchell; and Dwaine (Kim) of Sioux Falls; 44 grandchildren; 65 great grandchildren; and 15 great-great grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

Melba was preceded in death by her husband Dick on December 10, 1987; parents; two sons: Tommy Criswell and Richard Ridgway; two daughters-in-law: Mary and Patsy; son-in-law, Leonard "Tyke" Greger; six brothers: Carl; Jewitt; Byron; Wilbur; Woodrow and William; and three sisters: Clara Nance; Lessie Ward and Mildred Sherrill.