Melba E. Borchardt, 79, of Forest City, Iowa, died Thursday, April 18, 2013, at Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa in Mason City.

Funeral services were held April 20, at United Methodist Church in Forest City with Pastor Jerry Swanberg officiating.

Burial was in Oakland Cemetery in Forest City.

Melba Elaine Fox Borchardt was born on July 4, 1933, in her grandmother Fox’s house in Forest City, to Mearle and Evelyne (Reed) Fox.

She started kindergarten in 1938 in Forest City and graduated from Forest City High School in 1951. Melba attended Waldorf College for one year, then taught in country schools four years. She returned to Waldorf College and graduated in 1957. In 1963, Melba received a B.A. degree from Luther College.

Her teaching career at Twin River Community School started in 1957 and ended 30 years later with her retirement in 1987. She taught sixth grade in Ottosen and later fifth- and sixth-grade language and social studies in Livermore.

On June 17, 1973, she married Galen Borchardt in the United Methodist Church in Forest City. They made their home in Livermore for the next fifteen years.

Melba retired from teaching school in 1987 and moved to Forest City where she and her husband completed building their home on West Halverson Street.

Melba was a 64-year member of the United Methodist Church in Forest City and was a member of the Winnebago Election Board. Galen and Melba belonged to the Winnebago County Cousins. For years, they delivered clothes to needy people. They also worked at Sharing and Caring Hands, a shelter in Minneapolis where she helped preparing a meal and serving it.

Melba is survived by her husband, Galen.

She was preceded in death by her parents; a half brother and sister-in-law, Delbert and Marge Fox.