Diane Melby, age 74, of rural Canby, MN passed away surrounded by her family on Friday, September 27, 2024 at Ava Hospice House in Sioux Falls, SD. Celebration of Diane’s life will be 2 pm on Wednesday, October 16, 2024 at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Canby, MN with Rev. Levi Bollerud officiating. Burial will be in the Grandview Cemetery, Gary, SD. Visitation will be 5 – 7 pm on Tuesday, October 15th at the Houseman Funeral Home, Birk Chapel in Canby, MN and will resume Wednesday one hour prior to the service at the church. Houseman Funeral Home, Birk Chapel of Canby, MN is entrusted with the arrangements.
Diane Marie Melby (Stratton), was born June 2, 1950, to George and Ardis (Johnson) Stratton in Brookings, SD. She attended Brookings High School and graduated from SDSU with a major in Music Education. She taught music at Deubrook School for a few years. On June 1, 1974, she married Bruce Melby and moved to the farm outside Gary, SD. Diane and Bruce then purchased The Alibi in Gary, where they operated the restaurant together for 41years while raising their 5 children. Diane loved music, all Minnesota sports and the SDSU Jackrabbits. Diane was known in Brookings as “Strat” and in the Canby area as “Ma Melby”. In addition to The Alibi, she was a substitute teacher, sang in the SonShine group at the Lutheran church, and served on the church council. Over the years, Diane was involved in many events and activities in Gary and active in the Gary Economic Development Association. She also enjoyed weekly visits to the library for puzzles and games with her friends. Diane was always making sure people around her were well taken care of.
Diane is survived by her husband Bruce of 50 years; her 5 children – Aaron Melby, Lakeville, MN; Bethany (Brent) Driesen, Alvord, IA; Kyle Melby, Minneapolis, MN; Kathleen (Joseph) Raml, Clear Lake, SD; Meghan (Andrew) Full, Tea, SD. Her 8 grandchildren – Roxanne, Emma, Cooper and Lincoln Raml; Beckett and Haddie Driesen; Grant and Mya Full. Her siblings – Debbie (Keith) Bortnem, Mark (Jeanne) Stratton, and David (Barb) Stratton. In addition, many relatives in the Stratton, Johnson and Melby families. Diane passed away at Ava’s House in Sioux Falls, SD on September 27, 2024. Diane’s passing was unexpected as an illness resulted in discovering kidney cancer. She passed with her family and loved ones by her side. Diane was preceded in death by her parents George and Ardis Stratton.
