Melva May Poitras

Melva M. Poitras, 88, Moorhead, MN, died Thursday, September 30, 2004, in MeritCare Hospital, Fargo, ND.
Melva May Holland was born July 14, 1916, on the family farm in rural Clay County, near Barnesville, MN, to Harry O. and Mathilda (Austin) Holland. Melva was raised in the Barnesville and Downer, MN, areas and attended Barnesville High School.
Melva was united in marriage to Allen Poitras, June 19, 1939, in Barnesville, and they lived in Downer where they owned and operated Downer Mercantile. They also ran the Post Office in Downer.
They moved to Moorhead in 1960 and Melva worked as a housekeeper for area families, while raising her family. Allen died April 4, 1981, and Melva continued to make her home in Moorhead.
Melva is survived by one son, Steve (Sue) Poitras, Fargo; three daughters, Priscilla (Lowell) Bolger, Moorhead, Denise Poitras and Maureen (Rick) Newman, both Portland, OR; twelve grandchildren; ten great-grandchildren; two brothers, Leonard (Cecilia) Holland and Milton (Clara) Holland, both Barnesville; and two sisters, Eula (Donald) Moll, Dent, MN, and Joy (Milton) Rheault, Andover, MN.
In addition to her husband, Melva was preceded in death by a son, Philip; five brothers, Ray, Dale, Vernon, Harry and Glen; and five sisters, Vivian, Phyllis, Erma, Zella, and Zola.
Memorials are preferred to River Valley Church building fund.
Memorial Service: Wednesday, October 6, 2004 - 2 PM
River Valley Church, Moorhead