Melvin Hecht

Hills, MN Melvin Hecht, age 84 of Hills, MN died Friday, September 10, 2010 at Tuff Memorial Home in Hills, MN. Funeral service will be 10:30 AM, Monday, September 13th at the Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Hills, MN, with Pastor Mahlon Bekedam officiating. Burial will follow at Bethlehem Lutheran Church Cemetery in Hills, MN. Visitation will be Sunday, September 12th from 2:00 to 8:00 PM, with the family present from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at Jurrens Funeral Home of Hills. Melvin Richard Hecht was born August 31, 1926 on a farm near Larchwood, IA to Albert and Anna (Bahr) Hecht. He was raised and received an education in Larchwood, IA. As a young man he played high school basketball. He often rode his bike the four miles to town to attend school and graduated from Larchwood High School. He loved to roller skate at several area roller rinks and it was on one of those trips he met his future wife Violet. They were married at the First Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls on September 18, 1947. The couple made their home on a farm near Larchwood. Melvin was a lifelong farmer and retired from farming in 1988. On November 16, 2006 his wife of 59 years passed away. He was a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Hills, MN and served on the church council, taught Sunday school and also served as the Sunday school superintendent. His family will remember him as a man who could fix or build practically anything. He enjoyed building and flying model airplanes. His love of flying even inspired him to learn to fly and solo a full size 1948 Taylorcraft plane out of Zangger field in Larchwood. Melvins son David remembers as a child he and his dad would fly the model airplanes cross country, David running the controls to the model and his dad driving the pickup. He loved woodworking and furniture repair. Melvin built many projects such as clocks, dressers and quilt racks. His talent as a craftsman did not end with furniture whereas he built his own house and outbuildings on the farm. He also enjoyed fishing when he had the chance. His family was most important to him. He could often be seen attending his grandchildrens school events. His family will miss him greatly. This past Friday, Melvin passed away at the Tuff Home in Hills at the age of 84. Melvin is survived by his son, Larry (Maggie) Hecht of Larchwood, IA; daughter, Sharon Rossow (friend Howard Warriner) of Hills, MN; son, David (Nancy) Hecht of South Sioux City, NE; and son, Kevin (Lori) Hecht of Centerville, SD; 13 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife of 59 years, Violet; brothers, Donald and Ernest.