Darol & Marilyn Melby volunteer their way into retirement

By Karen Edelbach

"Volunteering has always been a team effort for us," say Darol and Marilyn Melby, both in their early 80s, especially since their retirement. 

"Since retirement we do almost everything together, and, we're both Norwegian!" they chime.

They've run a sheep ranch, a cattle ranch, raised two sons, volunteer annually for the January Blood Drive, participate in the spring and harvest festivals, and other projects hosted at their church, as well as volunteering in many local community organizations and events. 

Darol, born in Greenbush, in Roseau County, was raised on a farm. His dad taught in a one room school. Darol spent 35 years working for the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), 21 years of which were for the Soil Conservation Service. His first assignment was in Roseau, then Baudette, Bagley, Hallock, Alexandria, Bemidji, then back to Bagley where he became the County Supervisor for the FHA. 

By the time he was located in Bemidji he and Marilyn's two sons Jon and James were in grade school. The traveling and many evening meetings kept him away from the family, and this made him rethink his priorities. 

"Life is too short," Darol thought, "so I jumped ship, and took a cut in pay to take the FHA job in Bagley and be closer to home," where they live on their farm south of Bagley. 

"A friend told me 'you're ruining your career,' but I didn't miss it." 

Their sons were involved in 4-H and wanted to attend high school in Bagley, where they later graduated.

Marilyn grew up on a farm in the Fosston area with her parents, Rudolf "Boots" and Ida Balstad. She was the youngest of five siblings.   

When Marilyn was 12 years old they moved into what is known as "The Bagley Place" north of Fosston. Marilyn says the 1898 house was on a farm that was formerly owned by logger Sumner Bagley, after which the City of Bagley was named to his chagrin. She was bussed to the Northwest School of Agriculture in Crookston, and lived in a dormitory there. 

"There were four of these high schools, located in Grand Rapids, Morris, and Waseca, besides the one in Crookston," Darol says. "They were built so rural farm kids could go to high school which was six months of the year, from October through March." 

Marilyn went to college at the University of Minnesota in St. Paul where she graduated in 1959 after which she became the Home Economist for Clearwater County from 1959 - 1964. 

"There were over 100 girls in the 4-H Dress Revue during the years I was the leader," Marilyn says., "The advanced clothing girls participated in the 'Make It With Wool' contest, and we even had a winner of the national contest, JoAnn (Odegaard) Birkland. She won with a three piece suit she made for 4-H," Marilyn recalls. "There were so many talented 4-H members!"

Darol and Marilyn were married in December of 1962. She retired from the Home Economist job in 1964 to stay home and be a full-time mom. 

"I bought her a farm south of Bagley so she could be fully employed," Darol jokes. 

"We started with a flock of about 85 sheep," Darol says. "When I was transferred, we moved but kept the place south of Bagley and took the sheep with us to Hallock, and then to Alexandria. We had about 20 by then. They were well-traveled sheep!" 

Darol sheered his own sheep for 50 years, and the Bagley Mercantile bought the wool. 

"We taught our kids how to work," Marilyn says. 

Marilyn says it was always Darol's dream to have a dairy farm. When many would be thinking about retiring, Darol bought a herd of cattle which he had for 15 years. 

In the 1980s Darol went to McIntosh to help with the big job of refinancing family farms when disaster struck in agriculture. 

"Markets were disappearing, and lots of farmers became insolvent," he says. He retired in 1990.

Since retirement, and overcoming some health challenges, volunteering has become a full time job for the Melbys. 

Darol is a member of the local Rotary Club, a worldwide service organization. 

"Their Mission is 'A Polio Free World', and that is why I joined," he says. "I remember kids in Greenbush in the early 50s just before the Sauk Vaccine was available. They were crippled and died from a big outbreak of Polio in Minnesota. Many people never saw the awfulness." 

Both Marilyn and Darol serve on many local Board of Directors, including the Fair Board, and are described as "the oldest share-holders living". During her years as Home Economist, Marilyn says it was fun to judge at many northwest Minnesota fairs. 

Highlights in their life they are most proud of include being chosen as the Outstanding Senior Volunteers in 2016, and Valley Farmer and Homemaker for Clearwater County in 2001. Marilyn was the 1995 "First Lady of Clearwater County", and was selected for Top Aggie Award as an Alumni of the Northwest School of Agriculture that same year. She is also a charter member of NELL programs. 

The arts have always been important to Marilyn. She has been involved in "The Gallery of Original Art, which was started by Al Spray, high school art teacher, to recognize County artists." says Marilyn.

This is still a unique feature of the Clearwater County Fair.  

"I'm on the Board of North Country Arts and Crafts. We have a workshop in September at the Concordia Language Camp in Bemidji where I have taught Hardanger, a Norwegian stitchery, and making Kolaches." 

Darol and Marilyn are known for their lefse making skills, Swedish T-rings, and Grandma Balstad’s baked beans made for church fundraisers.

Darol is in the GIFTS program at Faith Lutheran Church (Growing in Faith to Serve) and fills in at area churches when needed. He is in the process of writing a family history of "90 Years of Sheep". 

"If you were to give me one piece of advice to help me lead a happy life, what would it be?" asked  one of his grandchildren. Darol answered:

"Choose Life, Serve the Lord, Serve People, and Love Your Neighbor." 

"You may recognize these words are Biblical. They are words that are True and will point in the direction of being a productive person, serving people and community. A career that leads to taking leadership and responsibility and relationships for a Better World," he says. 

Marilyn says the best things in life have been their trips and watching their children grow up.

Their son Jon followed in his father's footsteps with a career in Agriculture, as a Dairy Specialist in Badger. Jon and wife Shelly have two daughters, Alexis and Morgan. 

James is a 25 year Veteran of the United States Army where he was a helicopter pilot. While he served in Italy, Darol and Marilyn traveled there to greet their only grandson, Eric. James and wife Amanda retired in Alabama, and also have a daughter, Elizabeth. 

"Visiting Italy was wonderful," they say. "It is a beautiful country, and so filled with history." On their 25th anniversary, Darol and Marilyn took a trip to Norway. 

Darol and Marilyn Melby truly have the heart of a servant and stand out for their faithfulness in fulfilling that calling.