Aldene Meland

Aldene Meland, 88, of Northwood, ND, passed away Saturday, January 20, 2024, at Aneta Parkview Nursing Home in Aneta, ND. Funeral services will be held Friday, January 26, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. at Northwood Evangelical Lutheran Church in Northwood. A visitation will be held from 1:00 p.m. until the time of the service at the church. Memorials are preferred to Northwood Evangelical Lutheran Church, P.O. Box 394, Northwood, ND 58267.

Aldene Elaine Meland was born on March 28th, 1935, on the farm near Hatton, ND. She was the daughter of Clarence and Evelyn Dokken. She attended country school and later High School in Hatton, ND, graduating in 1953. She married Reuben Meland on December 12th, 1953. They recently celebrated their 70 year wedding anniversary. 

In 1955, they moved to San Diego, California where they lived until 1958 when they moved back to Northwood. Their three sons, Jeff, Scott, and Mitchell were all born in Northwood between 1959 and 1962. In 1964 they moved to Cooperstown, ND where Reuben opened a third branch of the “Meland Lumber'' lumber yard. They moved back to Northwood in 1969.

Aldene worked for Sears in Highland Park, IL while Reuben was stationed there shortly after they got married. She also worked at the Northwood Deaconess Health Center for several years throughout the 1980’s. 

She was a big Elvis fan and always talked about being among the first to hear Elvis on the Louisiana Hayride radio show in the 1950’s when she and Reuben lived in Missouri during one of Reuben’s Army training assignments. 

Aldene was involved in various social groups including Ladies Aid and Church Circles. She was primarily a homemaker, a wonderful wife, mother, daughter and grandmother who supported her family and took very good care of her 3 boys and supported her husband so well. She will be greatly missed. 

She is survived by her husband Reuben, 3 sons, Jeff (Susan) of Alexandria, MN, Scott (Cindy) of Grand Forks, and Mitchell of Sun Lakes, AZ, 6 grandchildren: Paul Meland (Boston, MA), Michaela Meland Hepper (Alec) of Grand Forks, McKenzie Meland (Grand Forks), Brady Meland (Grand Forks), Britney Meland (Sun Lakes, AZ), Zachary Meland (Sun Lakes, AZ), and one great grandson, Harrison Hepper of Grand Forks. 

She was preceded in death by her parents, 4 brothers, and 1 sister.