MELVA M. ELSBURY, 78, of Sutherland, Iowa passed away Wednesday, October 16, 2013 at her home in Sutherland.

Graveside memorial services will be held on Saturday, October 19th, at 3 p.m. at the Waterman Cemetery in Sutherland, Iowa. Pastor John Erickson will officiate. It was Melva's wishes to be cremated and there will be no visitation. The Boothby Funeral Home in Cherokee is in charge of the arrangements. Online condolences can be left at www.boothbyfuneral.com

Melva was born on November 14, 1934 at Berger, Missouri to Theodore & Hulda (Schultz) Mehrhoff. She attended school in New Haven, Missouri thru the sixth grade; Calumet Schools til 8th grade and then graduating from Sutherland High School in 1952. She later attended LPN School of Nursing graduating in 1972. She was married to Bernard Elsbury on November 29, 1952 at the Little Brown Church at Nashua, Iowa. She had worked as secretary for the First Church of Christ in Cherokee from 1969-1971; LPN at Sioux Valley Memorial Hospital from 1972-1979; secretary for the State of Arizona from 1986 until she retired in 1993. Melva was a member of the Church of Christ in Sutherland, American Legion Auxiliary and had served on the Sutherland Public Library Board for 12 years. She enjoyed reading, needlework, and loved spending time with her children and grandchildren. She had lived in Sutherland since 1995 and prior to this in Phoenix, Arizona 1985-1993; Cherokee, Iowa 1961-1985.

She was preceded in death by her parents and several aunts and uncles.

She is survived by her five children: Donna (Bob) Elsbury of Duluth, Minnesota; Paul (Jacki) Elsbury of Marion, Montana; Joe Elsbury of Cherokee, Iowa; Tim (Ellie) Elsbury of Houston, Texas; Kay (Drew) Gifford of Galveston, Texas; special niece Shelly Nelson of Dickens, Iowa and Sue Hoover of Whitefish, Montana who were like her own kids; 9 grandchildren; 7 great grandchildren; two sisters-in-law: Janet Bringle of Spencer, Iowa; Bonnie (Wayne) Urban of Lake Mills, Iowa; also several other nieces and nephews.