Mervin Rhody, 93, Albert Lea

Published 10:38 am Thursday, November 21, 2013

Mervin Wallace Rhody died on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2013, at his home in Albert Lea having lived a good, healthful life through his entire 93 years. He was born Sept. 20, 1920, in Deuel County, S.D., on the homestead established by his immigrant Norwegian grandparents.

Mervin is survived by all his children, Theresa, Leland, David, Sylvia, Wayne, Anthony, Timothy and Patrick; and by his siblings Carol, Verna, Ida Mae and Quentin. He was preceded in death by his wife of more than 62 years, Joyce (nee Goodrich); parents Clarence and Sylvia (nee Gravening) Rhody; siblings Irene, Doris, Ellis, Ronald, Virgil, Doran, Arlen and Evelyn; and by his first grandchild, Tabitha.

Besides having lived longer than anyone so far in the Rhody family (his father died at 90, mother 88, older sister, Evelyn at 91) he had a remarkably healthy, active life until leukemia starting slowing him down the last decade and a half of his life.

Mervin Rhody

As a young man, Mervin worked on the family farm, put in a couple years at a sauerkraut factory in Franksville, Wis., until he was drafted into the Army Air Force in 1942. He worked as an airplane mechanic during World War II first at a base in Long Beach, Calif., and during the later part of the war at a base in India.

For the first 10 years after their 1948 marriage, Mervin and Joyce lived on the Rhody homestead outside Toronto, S.D., farming and bringing five children into the world. After they moved to Wisconsin in 1959 they were blessed with three more boys. Mervin worked for 25 1/2 for American Motors in Kenosha and the family lived in Waterford. In 1995 after his wife, Joyce, retired they moved to Albert Lea.

Although the foundation of his success in life was hard work and self-sacrifice, Mervin was a fun-loving man. He loved big summer family picnics, playing cards and horseshoes and dancing. He and Joyce attended dozens of polka festivals during their retirement years. He liked to vacation in Branson, Mo., and enjoyed Black Hills, Rio Grande, Mississippi and Grand Canyon adventures with his family. He was a member of the American Legion Post 56 Albert Lea. He battled leukemia for 15 years, having been diagnosed just before his 50th wedding anniversary. He lived a good, long life.

Mervin Rhody will be buried at Blom Prairie Cemetery outside Toronto, S.D., the cemetery that adjoins the original Rhody homestead and is the resting place of his wife, parents, grandparents and many other family loved ones.

Mervin Rhody

Funeral services are scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Theodore Catholic Church in Albert Lea. The viewing will be from 4 to 5 p.m. Friday at Bonnerup Funeral Home in Albert Lea. Burial at Blom Prairie, S.D., will be at 4 p.m. Saturday. Military honors will be accorded by the Albert Lea area veterans groups. The family has asked that in lieu of flowers donations be made to the American Cancer Society.