Shanna Mjelde-Vanlaningham

Shanna Mjelde-Vanlaningham, 67, Fargo, ND, passed away Sunday, May 25, 2014, in the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Fargo.

Shanna Dawn Mjelde was born on July 15, 1946, in Fertile, MN. When she was seven months old, she was adopted by Vernon and Norma (Torgerson) Mjelde. They lived in Beltrami, MN, and when Shanna was 16 months old, the family moved to Seattle, WA.

Shanna was confirmed in First Lutheran Church, Seattle, and was active in the church's functions. The family moved to Moorhead when she was a sophomore, and Shanna graduated from Moorhead High School. She attended Moorhead State University for one semester before enlisting in the US Navy.

She was stationed in Bainbridge, MD, and San Francisco, CA, where she did secretarial work from 1965-68. While there, she met her friend Janet Stern. They were both honorably discharged at the same time and made their home in Moorhead. Shanna worked for Bethany Homes before earning a degree from NDSCS in Nursing. She then worked at St. John's Hospital, Manor Care, and Eventide Lutheran Home before retiring due to complications from diabetes.

Shanna had many stays at the VA Hospital, where she met the love of her life, Robert Vanlaningham, who was also a patient there. They were married on July 15, 2010, at Trinity Lutheran Church, Moorhead. They had two short but blissful years of marriage, when Bob passed away on July 5, 2012.

Shanna is survived by her mother, Norma; sister, Cynthia (Gary) Nolte; brother-in-law, Clayton Smeltzer; precious great-nephew, Kobe Smeltzer; nieces, Angela (Brian) Nolte-Schulz, and Linh (Chung) Tran; nephew, Todd (Laura) Nolte; sisters-in-law, Betty Johnson and Mary Southerland; many uncles, aunts, and cousins; and two special friends, Janet Stern and Cindy Selcer.

She was preceded in death by her husband; father; infant brother, Sheldon Clay; sister, Becky Mjelde-Smeltzer; and several aunts and uncles.

Visitation: one hour prior to service. Memorial Service: Friday, May 30, 2014, at 2 PM, in Trinity Lutheran Church, Moorhead. Private Burial: Scandia Cemetery, Beltrami.

Military honors will be held at the memorial service.

In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to the local food pantry, Trinity Lutheran Church Endowment Fund, or the American Diabetes Association, 1323 23rd St S # A, Fargo, ND 58103.