Anna
Anna Melgaard
d. August 30, 2016
Anna (Untch) Melgaard, age 89, went to be with her Lord and Savior on August 30, 2016. Anna was born in German (Saxon) community in Reichesdorf, Romania on September 13, 1926 to Simon and Rosina Untch. She grew up helping on the family farm where they raised grapes, flax, corn, beans, pigs and cattle. She enjoyed going with her extended family to work together in the fields. Many of the men from her area in Transylvania were forced into the German Army during WWII. After the war, Germans owed the Soviets war reparations, and thousands of young people from her area were shipped in box cars to slave labor camps in Ukraine. There they were forced to do hard physical labor, but were given very little to eat. After two and a half years, Anna was so emaciated that she was sent to East Germany to recuperate. Her sister was already there and together, the girls escaped to West Germany. They were not allowed to return to their home because they hadn’t finished their 5 years obligation. They had an uncle, Jack Untch, in Prosser, who spent over two years working on the paperwork to bring the sisters to Prosser. When they arrived in 1950, they saw fields and orchards full of produce and were reminded of home, but the hills surrounding Prosser were barren.
In 1953, Anna married Alfred Melgaard and moved across the road to his farm, where they raised dairy cattle, alfalfa and corn silage. They bought more land and so began Melgaard’s Dairy. A new house, barns and a garage were built to accommodate the growing farm. Many people purchased raw milk from Melgaard’s Dairy until Anna retired in 1985.
Anna kept a very large garden until 2013. She preserved all the fruit and vegetables she raised. Her garden was always beautiful. One friend said she must have gardened in the Garden of Eden. She planted extra green beans and sold them to the store in Prosser. Anna worked extremely hard, but was always happiest when working together on the farm.
Anna is survived by her three children, Alice (Steve) Ard, Fred (Robin) Melgaard and John (Mandy) Melgaard; four grandsons, Philip and Tyson (Corie) Ard and Chris and Cameron Melgaard; great-grandson, Braden Ard; several nieces and nephews; and two cousins. She is also survived by the caregivers from Sheffield Manor who loved her and made her last months comfortable.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Alfred in 1985; and seven sisters and brothers.
A funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, September 10, 2016 at the Covenant Presbyterian Church in Prosser. Concluding services and burial will follow at the Prosser Cemetery. Viewing will be held prior to the service from 9:00 until 10:30 AM. You may leave an online message of condolence for the family at www.prosserfuneralhome.com
In 1953, Anna married Alfred Melgaard and moved across the road to his farm, where they raised dairy cattle, alfalfa and corn silage. They bought more land and so began Melgaard’s Dairy. A new house, barns and a garage were built to accommodate the growing farm. Many people purchased raw milk from Melgaard’s Dairy until Anna retired in 1985.
Anna kept a very large garden until 2013. She preserved all the fruit and vegetables she raised. Her garden was always beautiful. One friend said she must have gardened in the Garden of Eden. She planted extra green beans and sold them to the store in Prosser. Anna worked extremely hard, but was always happiest when working together on the farm.
Anna is survived by her three children, Alice (Steve) Ard, Fred (Robin) Melgaard and John (Mandy) Melgaard; four grandsons, Philip and Tyson (Corie) Ard and Chris and Cameron Melgaard; great-grandson, Braden Ard; several nieces and nephews; and two cousins. She is also survived by the caregivers from Sheffield Manor who loved her and made her last months comfortable.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Alfred in 1985; and seven sisters and brothers.
A funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, September 10, 2016 at the Covenant Presbyterian Church in Prosser. Concluding services and burial will follow at the Prosser Cemetery. Viewing will be held prior to the service from 9:00 until 10:30 AM. You may leave an online message of condolence for the family at www.prosserfuneralhome.com
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