1920
Mervin
2013
Mervin Rhody
September 20, 1920 — November 19, 2013
Mervin Wallace Rhody died Tuesday November 19th, 2013 at his home in Albert Lea, MN having lived a good, healthful life through his entire 93 years. He was born September 20, 1920 in Deuel County, South Dakota on the homestead established by his immigrant Norwegian grandparents.
Survived by all his children, Theresa, Leland, David, Sylvia, Wayne, Anthony, Timothy and Patrick and by his siblings, Carol, Verna, Ida Mae and Quentin, he is preceded in death by his wife of over 62 years, Joyce [nee Goodrich] and by his parents, Clarence and Sylvia [nee Gravening] Rhody, siblings, Irene, Doris, Ellis, Ronald, Virgil, Doran, Arlen and Evelyn, and by his first grandchild, Tabitha.
Besides having lived longer than anyone so far in the Rhody family (his father died at 90, mother 88, older sister, Evelyn at 91) he had a remarkably healthy, active life until Leukemia starting slowing him down the last decade and a half of his life.
As a young man, Mervin worked on the family farm, put in a couple years at a sauerkraut factory in Franksville, WI until he was drafted into the Army Air Force in 1942. He worked as an airplane mechanic during WWII first at a base in Long Beach, California and, during the later part of the war, at a base in India.
For the first ten years after their 1948 marriage, Mervin and Joyce lived on the Rhody homestead outside Toronto, SD, farming and bringing five children into the world. After they moved to Wisconsin in 1959 they were blessed with three more boys. Mervin worked for twenty-five and a half years for American Motors in Kenosha and the family lived in Waterford. In 1995 after his wife, Joyce, retired they moved to Albert Lea MN.
Although the foundation of his success in life was hard work and self-sacrifice, Mervin was a fun-loving man. He loved big summer family picnics, playing cards and horseshoes and dancing. He and Joyce attended dozens of Polka Festivals during their retirement years. He liked to vacation in Branson, MO and enjoyed Black Hills, Rio Grande, Mississippi and Grand Canyon adventures with his family. He was a member of the American Legion Post 56 Albert Lea. He battled leukemia for 15 years, having been diagnosed just before his 50th wedding anniversary. He lived a good, long life.
Mervin Rhody will be buried at Blom Prairie Cemetery outside Toronto, SD, the cemetery that adjoins the original Rhody homestead and is the resting place of his wife, parents, grandparents and many other family loved ones.
Funeral services are scheduled for 10:00 AM Saturday (11/23) at St. Theodore Catholic Church in Albert Lea. The viewing is to be Friday from 4:00 - 5:00 PM at the Bonnerup Funeral Home in Albert Lea. Burial at Blom Prairie, SD, will be 4:00 PM on Saturday. Military honors will be accorded Mervin Rhody by the Albert Lea Area Veterans Group. The family has asked that in lieu of flowers donations be made to the American Cancer Society.
Survived by all his children, Theresa, Leland, David, Sylvia, Wayne, Anthony, Timothy and Patrick and by his siblings, Carol, Verna, Ida Mae and Quentin, he is preceded in death by his wife of over 62 years, Joyce [nee Goodrich] and by his parents, Clarence and Sylvia [nee Gravening] Rhody, siblings, Irene, Doris, Ellis, Ronald, Virgil, Doran, Arlen and Evelyn, and by his first grandchild, Tabitha.
Besides having lived longer than anyone so far in the Rhody family (his father died at 90, mother 88, older sister, Evelyn at 91) he had a remarkably healthy, active life until Leukemia starting slowing him down the last decade and a half of his life.
As a young man, Mervin worked on the family farm, put in a couple years at a sauerkraut factory in Franksville, WI until he was drafted into the Army Air Force in 1942. He worked as an airplane mechanic during WWII first at a base in Long Beach, California and, during the later part of the war, at a base in India.
For the first ten years after their 1948 marriage, Mervin and Joyce lived on the Rhody homestead outside Toronto, SD, farming and bringing five children into the world. After they moved to Wisconsin in 1959 they were blessed with three more boys. Mervin worked for twenty-five and a half years for American Motors in Kenosha and the family lived in Waterford. In 1995 after his wife, Joyce, retired they moved to Albert Lea MN.
Although the foundation of his success in life was hard work and self-sacrifice, Mervin was a fun-loving man. He loved big summer family picnics, playing cards and horseshoes and dancing. He and Joyce attended dozens of Polka Festivals during their retirement years. He liked to vacation in Branson, MO and enjoyed Black Hills, Rio Grande, Mississippi and Grand Canyon adventures with his family. He was a member of the American Legion Post 56 Albert Lea. He battled leukemia for 15 years, having been diagnosed just before his 50th wedding anniversary. He lived a good, long life.
Mervin Rhody will be buried at Blom Prairie Cemetery outside Toronto, SD, the cemetery that adjoins the original Rhody homestead and is the resting place of his wife, parents, grandparents and many other family loved ones.
Funeral services are scheduled for 10:00 AM Saturday (11/23) at St. Theodore Catholic Church in Albert Lea. The viewing is to be Friday from 4:00 - 5:00 PM at the Bonnerup Funeral Home in Albert Lea. Burial at Blom Prairie, SD, will be 4:00 PM on Saturday. Military honors will be accorded Mervin Rhody by the Albert Lea Area Veterans Group. The family has asked that in lieu of flowers donations be made to the American Cancer Society.
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