Ardyce Melby, 95, of Crosby, ND passed away Friday, May 25, 2023, surrounded by her children at Sidney, Montana after a short battle with cancer.

Ardyce was born on August 23, 1927, in Coteau, ND to Harry and Helen (Larson) Maltby. She graduated as Salutatorian of Class of 1945 from Coteau High School. She worked at the Coteau Grocery Store during her Senior year through 1947. She married Dwaine Melby on May 30, 1948, and began working at Coteau Lumber till 1949 until giving birth to son Michael. She was the church pianist for 17 years and was the Church Treasurer and Coteau Lutheran Cemetery Treasurer for several years. She began singing with her sister-in-law, Grace Melby in the 7th grade for many funerals and later formed a trio with Grace Melby and Faye Sundin. She became a housewife and mother raising seven children, Michael, Deb, Keith, Barb, Kent, Janette, and Anita. She enjoyed cooking, taking many meals to the fields, sewing, and gardening and shooting gophers. She also attended many of the kids' band concerts and sporting events. She was a current member of the Crosby Moose Club and a member of Bowbells/Coteau United Methodist Church. Ardyce lived on the farm in Bowbells until 1989 when she moved to Crosby and spent some winters in Mesa, Arizona.

Ardyce is survived by: son Michael (Deb) Crosby, ND, daughter Deb Veik, Aurora, CO, son Keith (Sherry) Melby, Kenmare, ND, daughter Barb (Rick) Bosch, Linton, ND, son Kent Melby, Crosby, ND, daughter Janette McCollum, Sidney, MT and daughter Anita (Mark) Tharnish, Aurora, CO. 18 Grandchildren and 19 Great-grandchildren, Rob Melby, Megan (Aaron) Carranza - Maren, Alana & Joel, Nicole Rego - Andrew & Aiden, Nick Alber, Allison (Jason) Morris - Noah, Justin (Dana) Melby, Michael (Joanna) Brekhus - Charlotte & Natasha, Tonya (Brady) Kellerman - Jayden & Lucy, Crystal (Dean) Eide - Riley & Carter, Amanda Gravesen - Jaryn, Kelly (Laura) Gravesen - Tate & Hadley, Carly (Cortney) Anderson - Berlyn, Jamison (Paige) Bosch, Dane (Jennifer) McCollum - Liam, Cael & Brady, Koby McCollum, Angela Tharnish - Addison & Aubreyanna, and Bryan(Elizabeth) Tharnish - Olivia. Several nieces and nephews also survive her.

Ardyce was preceded in death by her parents, husband Dwaine, sisters Harriet Hovland, Ruth Haugen, brothers Delbert & Denton Maltby.