The funeral service for Melvin Henriksen, 92, of Vesta, will be at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, May 14, 2026, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Vesta. Visitation will be from 9:30 until 11:00 a.m. before the service at the church. Interment with military honors will be at the Vesta Cemetery followed by a meal at the church.
Melvin George Henriksen was born on his family farm in rural Vesta to George and Blondina (Jordan) Henriksen on January 25, 1934. He was baptized and confirmed at St. John’s Lutheran Church where he was a lifelong member. Melvin attended Country School District 54 through the eighth grade. He worked on the family farm until he volunteered to serve his country in the United States Army in 1956, taking his oath of enlistment in St. Paul. He then went to basic training in Fort Hood, TX, then on to Fort Sill, OK, where he trained as a survey specialist. During this time, he spent 3 months at West Point, NY, familiarizing cadets in artillery. Melvin was honorably discharged in March 1958, he returned to the family farm. On July 29, 1959, Melvin and Louise Paluck were united in marriage. They purchased a farm 4 ½ miles southeast of Vesta. He served on the Vesta Cemetery Board for many years. Melvin and Louise were blessed with 6 children: Daniel, Jeanelle, Jolene, Lynn, Jergen, and Sonja. Through the years Melvin enjoyed spending time with his family. He traveled with his wife and children. He enjoyed going to Montana with his son, grandsons, and son-in-law to hunt deer and geese while listening to music along the way, as well as hunting deer at their hunting shack. With his grandsons, he built chopper bikes from old bikes he collected. Melvin also made endless bird houses, nativity mangers, mushrooms designed from old trees, and barb wire art. Our family tradition in the spring was to go to the Minnesota River to find the first Mayflower in bloom. He enjoyed watching 30+ painted turtles laying eggs each spring, evening sunsets, and eating Lutefisk, oyster stew and suet pudding. Often with the help of grandkids, he loved cutting down trees and splitting wood. He also coached the Vesta Girls softball team for 8 years.
Melvin died on Friday, May 8, 2026, at Parkview Senior Living in Belview. He is survived by his wife Louise of Vesta; children Daniel (Jolene) Henriksen of Vesta, Jeanelle (Gregory) Stepan of St. Cloud, Jolene (Daniel) Bergner of Chaska, Lynn (James) Flesch of St. Paul, and Sonja (Kelly) McGivern of Rosemount; grandchildren Samuel Henriksen, Clair Schroepfer, Jenna Irlbeck, Joseph Stepan, Spencer Stepan, Leo Stepan, Thomas Bergner, William Bergner, Elizabeth Rossini, Timothy Flesch, Michael Flesch, Kristina McGivern, Mariah Offerdahl, and Charles McGivern; 27 great-grandchildren; sisters Gladys Beadell and Pearl Ville; and many other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents George and Blondina, son Jergen in 1983, and sisters Vera Sylte and Doris Penske.
*Melvin’s Casket was built by his son Daniel* In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Vesta Cemetery.
