Melville William Long was born at North Branch, Iowa, December 4, 1895, to the parents, Andrew and Millie (Reed) Long. At the age of 15 years, he moved with his family to a farm near Clarkfield. As a boy he attended elementary school in Iowa and later in Normania Township. He assisted his parents on the farm until he was inducted in the Army in World War I, February 25, 1918. He received his training at Camp Dodge, Iowa, then Camp Upton and was assigned Co. D 320 Machine Gun Battalion, 82nd Div. Am. Expeditionary Forces and left for overseas April 25, 1918. He arrived in France via England and served in the front lines of some of the severest battles and gas attacks of the war. He fought in the St. Mikiel, Meuse, Arghonne Forest and others. He remained in France after the war till April 25, 1919, when he returned on the ship, Huron, arriving in New York on May 6, 1919. He received his discharge at Camp Dodge, Iowa, May 20, 1919. He was united in marriage to Sophia Marie Lee on October 7, 1919. To this union were born three children. He was baptized by Rev. O.M.O. Wee and instructed by Rev. J.E.H. Akre. The family joined the Spring Creek Lutheran Church. He settled on a farm in Normania Township which he operated for 33 years. He then worked as a County bin site laborer and moved to Clarkfield in October of 1960. The beloved departed was a hard working man and always ready to help others. Melville leaves to mourn his passing, his beloved wife, Sophia; three children: Hazel (Mrs. Giles Kise) of Madison, Minnesota, Inez (Mrs. Ellsworth Anderson) of Clarkfield, and Arthur Reed of Seattle, Washington; eleven grandchildren; 19 great grandchildren; one brother, Boyd Long; and two sisters: Pearl (Mrs. Henry Ernst) and Murvel (Mrs. Everette Loomis) all of this area; and a host of other relatives and friends. His parents, one brother Orville, and sister, Mrs. Devota Walls, preceded him in death. He suffered a stroke on August 11, 1958, and was able to return to work until January 3, 1963, when he retired. His health had been failing for some time and he passed away at the Clarkfield Community Hospital on February 7, 1972, at the age of 76 years. In Memory of MELVILLE W. LONG Born December 4, 1895 ~ Passed away February 7, 1972 Funeral Services Friday, February 11, 1972, 11:00 a.m. Clarkfield Lutheran Church, Clarkfield, Minnesota Officiating, Rev. David Sorbel Organist, Mrs. Ronald Donner Vocal Music Mrs. Mally Anderson Mrs. Mark Long "The Lord Is My Shepherd" "How Great Thou Art" Honorary Casket Bearers John Josephson ~ Don Ferguson Albert Pesek ~ Wally Stroschein Walter Oraas ~ Ervin Antonson Casket Bearers Mally Anderson ~ Douglas McCoss Mark Long ~ Elmer Walls Duane Kise ~ Darwin Long Final Resting Place Spring Creek Cemetery, Normania Township Yellow Medicine County, Minnesota Arrangements by Lynner Funeral Home Since 1891 Clarkfield, Minnesota