MELBA D. PRIVET

October 25, 1929 - January 1, 2018

Melba D. Privet passed away on January 1st at Gundersen Tweeten Care Center, surrounded by her loving family. She was 88. Born October 25, 1929 in Caledonia, Minnesota, Melba Thillen graduated from Loretto High School in Caledonia. Melba became a lifelong homemaker, gardener, and farmer alongside her husband. She also worked side-by-side with her children, active in 4-H for 20+ years. Melba married Ronald H. Privet on June 5th 1951 and together raised six children: Gary (Bernadene) Privet, Caledonia; Jean Ann (Lonny) Tweeten, Spring Grove; John (Jeri) Privet, Sugarland TX; Karen (Edward) Voight, Caledonia; Mark (Laurie) Privet, La Crescent; Kenneth Privet, Caledonia. Also surviving Melba are her eighteen grandchildren: Peter (Lynda) Privet, Lora (Brian) Wild, Tony (Lynette) Privet, Brenda (Josh) Brumm, Kari (Michael) Ingvaldson, Karen (Russell) Larson, Kati (Brandon) Bergey, Karla Tweeten, Tyler (Sara) Privet, Alex Privet, Anna Privet, Tessa Privet, Jessica (Ryan) Kealhofer, Kevin Voight, Brianna (Keith) Jonsgaard, Macy Privet, Spenser Privet, and Grace Privet. She also has twenty-one great-grandchildren including Sam, Ava, and Leo Privet; Beau and Zander Wild; Shaun, Kandis, Lydia, and Leah Privet; Mylee and Garytt Thorson; Jaxtyn and Kaycee Brumm; Tristan Ingvaldson; Hayley, Jordan, and Tyler Larson; Kinsley Bergey; Quinn Privet; & Brennan and Karson Jonsgaard. Melba is also survived by her sisters Esther Felten of Caledonia, Fern Richards of Brownsville, and Sr. Evelyn Thillen of Rochester. Melba was preceded in death by her husband Ronald, her parents John and Apollonia Thillen, parents-in-law Peter and Catherine Privet, sisters Carol Schieber and Lorraine Vick, brothers Valerie and John Thillen, sisters-in-law Eileen Welscher and Rose Marie Deters, and brother-in-law LaVern Privet. Funeral services will be held on Friday January 5th at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Caledonia beginning at 11 AM with visitation 60 minutes beforehand. The burial will be held at Calvary Cemetery, Caledonia. A separate visitation will be held on Thursday January 4th at St. Mary's Holy Family Hall from 4-7 PM.