Betty Melgard

Bernice Elizabeth Brantl – (Betty Melgard)

10 December,1927 – 10 April, 2021 – age 93

Bernice Elizabeth Brantl was born in Eatonia, Saskatchewan Canada to Albert Alexander Brantl and Bozena (Holcova) Brantl. Her mother died four days later due to childbirth complications. She was placed in a hospital orphanage in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. She was rescued by her two aunts who traveled from Tabor, MN. She was raised in the Tabor area by her grandparents, John and Mary Brantl, and her aunts Mrs. Sylvia (Jim) Novacek and Mrs. Otilla (Ralph) Maruska along with her orphaned cousins Charles, Matilda and Emil Jerik. She attended rural schools and Warren High School.

In early 1944 she went to live with her father in Coeur d’ Alene, ID. Her future husband Calvin Melgard relocated there later. They were married 10 November,1944 in Spokane, WA. They both worked at the Spokane Air Technical Service Command for the duration of WWII. Betty rebuilt magnetos for B-29 bombers.

After the war came to an end, they returned to Warren to work on the Melgard Farm. Betty worked in the kitchen and was tasked to bake 17 loaves of bread daily in a wood stove’s oven for the farm laborers. It was there that she started her lifelong passion of baking all types of bread for family and to gift to others.

In the mid-1950’s Betty and Cal opened Cal’s Café where Betty multitasked and managed the employees. After they sold the café Betty worked for several other businesses over many years in various capacities.

Besides being an awesome mother to her children she was also a “mother” to many animals who considered her “their mother”. She cared for many chickens, quail, pheasants, ducks, two robins, a raccoon, cats and dogs. She had a soft spot in her heart for all creatures. Betty played the piano by ear and could pick up a tune and play effortlessly. She was deeply spiritual and read the Bible daily.

Betty is survived by her five children. John (Marsha) - WI, Calvin (Mary) - CA, Margaret – MN, Ralph (Cindy) – WI and Alice (Randy) Matthews – MN along with many grandchildren, great grandchildren and other relatives.

Betty was preceded in death by her husband Calvin D. Melgard in November, 2015 and an infant daughter Alice Ann in September of 1948.

Celebration of Life: 5:00 - 7:00 PM on Tuesday, August 10, 2021 at the Warren Community Center in Warren, MN.

Betty was a strong supporter of education and the family would like memorials directed to the WAO Education Foundation.

Memorials and condolences can be directed to:

Mag Melgard

P.O. Box 151

Warren, MN 56762