Melba Maurine Dudgeon

Melba Maurine Dudgeon, the daughter of Ira and Katharyn Finnerty Miller, was born July 22, 1920 at her parents home near Gray, Iowa and died December 12, 2008 at the Audubon County Memorial Hospital in Audubon, Iowa at the age of 88 years, 7 months, and 20 days.
Melba was baptized and confirmed at the Methodist Church in Gray. She attended rural school near Viola, Iowa, graduated from the Audubon High School with the Class of 1937, then helped at home.
On April 16, 1939, she was united in marriage to Wayne L. Dudgeon in Maryville, Missouri. They moved to Burns, Oregon for a year and a half, then moved to Blair, Nebraska. During this time Melba was a homemaker. They returned to Audubon. Wayne enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1944. During World War II she worked at the canning factory and other various jobs. Wayne returned from the service in 1946. Melba was employed as a legal secretary at L. K. Madsens law office for several years. She then worked as head teller at the Audubon State Bank from 1952 until she retired after working there for over 40 years. During retirement Melba enjoyed bowling, playing golf and most of all playing bridge. Wayne died May 6, 1996. Melba sold their home and moved to her present home in Audubon.
Melba was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Audubon. She had been a member of the Friendship Home Board and served as the Treasurer of the Audubon Community Schools. She also was a substitute for the church secretary at the First United Methodist Church in Audubon.
Preceding her in death in addition to her husband were her parents; her brothers and sister: Fletcher and wife Ruth Miller; Eldon and wife Norma Miller; Kenneth and wife Tootie Miller; Ellen Addie Miller; her brothers-in-law: Terry Beaver and Lyle and wife Betty Dudgeon.
Survivors include her children: Sandra and husband Gary Bjorn of Kansas City, MO and Douglas Dudgeon of Minneapolis, MN; her daughter-in-law Barbara Dudgeon of Minneapolis; her grandchildren: Robert Wayne and wife Cynthia Bjorn; Amy Jo and husband Scott Hickox all of Kansas City, MO; Katie Dudgeon of Fullerton, CA and Luke Dudgeon of Minneapolis; her great-grandchildren: Ethan Bjorn; Allison Hickox; Connor Hickox; and Cooper Hickox, all of Kansas City; her step-grandchildren: Dylan Wilkerson and Noah Hutson, both of Kansas City; her sisters-in-law: Elinor Beaver of Tekamah, NE; Jackie and husband Herman Lauritsen of Blair, NE; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Cemetery:
Interment will be in the Maple Grove Cemetery in Audubon.

Visitation:
Viewing will be Wednesday from 9:00 A.M. at the First United Methodist Church in Audubon until time of service. The family will meet friends Wednesday from 1:00 P.M. until time of service at the First United Methodist Church in Audubon.

Service:
Funeral services will be conducted by Pastor Dwayne Ferguson and Pastor Scott Hickox on Wednesday, December 17, 2008 at 2:00 P.M. at the First United Methodist Church in Audubon, Iowa.