Arthur Melby 92 of Harvey died Friday December 3, 2010 at the St. Aloisius Nursing Home of Harvey. Funeral services will be held at the First Lutheran Church of Harvey on Tuesday December 7, 2010 at 10:30 am. Visitation will be held at the Hertz Funeral Home of Harvey on Monday December 6, 2010 from 2:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Burial will be held at the Hillsdale Lutheran Cemetery rural Harvey, ND.

Arthur was born on August 30, 1918 in Western Township rural Harvey, ND. He was the son of Magnus and Sigrid (Mark) Melby. He lived with his family on the family farm until October of 1935, when he enlisted in the United States Navy where he trained at Great Lakes, IL. Art was on the US Tennessee battleship from 1936 until 1941. He was honorably discharged from the Navy in July of 1941 and that same month he married Clara L. Moser. They settled in San Francisco, CA where Art became employed at the Southern Pacific Railroad's Mission Bay Roundhouse, transferring after a few months to their office building as a stationary fireman. In July of 1942 Art re-enlisted in the Navy and served as Chief Quartermaster on an attack transport in the Atlantic, taking part in the invasion of North Africa and eight months later the invasion of Sicily. After Sicily Art was transferred and served the remainder of World War II on a destroyer escort in the western Pacific area. After World War II ended, Art was honorably discharged from the Navy in September 1945 and returned to his job at the Southern Pacific office building. They returned to North Dakota in 1950 and begin farming near Harvey. In 1977 Art sold the farm and moved to Harvey. In 1978, Art was elected State Representative from District 14 and served as a state legislator until 1991. Clara died on October 8, 1993. Art was a member of First Lutheran Church of Harvey. Art served a term as Commander of Wells County Post 1868 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and was also a member of the Frank E. Curry Post 28 of the American Legion. He was also a member of the Sons of Norway and Harvey Senior Citizens. Art married Florence (Christensen) Meckle on October 10, 1994. Art is survived by his wife, Florence of Harvey; sister, Neola Melby of Minneapolis. Art was preceded in death by parents; wife, Clara; sister, Ada Melby; brother, Martinus Melby.