Charlotte Marie Melin Wicke was born on the family farm near Chokio on September 21, 1920, to parents Fred and Elzada (Schaefer) Howard. She was baptized in 1927 at Big Stone Lake. Charlotte attended country school at Artichoke Lake and graduated from Appleton High School in 1938.In October of 1939 she was married to Walter Melina at Reque Lutheran Church parsonage. Charlotte worked as a telephone operator, manager of the Drive Inn, and as a caretaker at the elementary school while living in Appleton. She did the bookkeeping in their construction business until Walter died in 1959. In 1981 she was married to George Wicke at Zion Lutheran Church. While living in St. Paul Charlotte worked for an insurance company. George died in 2002.She was a member of Zion Lutheran Church, the ETC Birthday Club, and the bridge club. She enjoyed reading, crocheting, knitting, needlepoint, playing bridge and Scrabble, and doing puzzles.Charlotte died on Tuesday, February 7th, at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD. She was 91 years, 4 months, and 16 days of age.She is survived by three sons: Gary (Eileen) Melin of Rochester, Dennis (Nancee) Melin of Tucson, AZ, and Dr. Richard (Sally) Melin of Van Buren, AR; eight grandchildren and their children in Arizona, Minnesota, and Oklahoma; nieces: Joann Howard Seuser of Albert Lea, Nancy Howard Moen of Appleton, Carol Howard Hough of Rochester, and Aljean VanWinkle Loving of Bristol, IN; nephews: Gordon Howard of Columbia, MO, Stephen Howard of Key Largo, FL, Doyle Howard Willmar, and Darus Howard of Renville; sister-in-law, Marjorie (Donald) Hills Erickson, who lives on the Howard family farm in Chokio; and many dear friends.She is preceded in death by her parents; husbands Walter Melin and George Wicke and five brothers: Cecil, Ervin, Floyd, Kenneth, and Fred Howard, Jr.
