We celebrate the life and mourn the loss of Melba Ardene Pedersen who passed away May 31, 2014, at North Valley Hospital.

Melba was born Feb. 7, 1939, in Kalispell to Elmer and Dorothy Colby. 

Melba is survived by her husband of 52 years, Curtis Pedersen; her sisters, Loretta and Lois; and her brothers, Lynn and Butch; her children, Pati, Leslie, Layna, Laurie, Daniel, Michael, adopted daughter Kathy, and their families, including 13 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren and numerous in-laws, “outlaws” and others.

As a child, Melba overcame many childhood adversities, was a star athlete and a natural swimmer. She was captain of her baseball team. She graduated eighth grade.

As an adult Melba was proud to achieve her GED so she could become a certified nursing assistant at Colonial Manor, where for 18 years she passionately cared for her patients as if they were her own parents.

Anyone who met Melba became family and affectionately called her Mama P. She was known for her famous fudge and bottomless cookie jar. No one was ever turned away from a meal at her house.

Melba will be missed, but will live on in the hearts and memories of those who loved and knew her. She was a truly great woman and will always be loved dearly.

Please join us in celebration of a life well lived from 2 to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, June 4, for an open house at her daughter Pati’s home.