Melvin Doucette

Melvin Harvey Doucette was born on September 24, 1925 in Little Falls, MN to Edmund and Aurelia (LaForce) Doucette. He grew up on a farm and farmed with his father and brother as a young man. On October 11, 1944, Melvin was united in marriage to Lorraine (also known as Pat) Gilson at Holy Family Catholic Church in Belle Prairie, MN. Melvin ventured up to Alaska and helped in the building of the Fairbanks Airport, as well as working in the mines. Upon returning to the Little Falls area, he owned and operated the Ft. Ripley Dance Hall for several years. He also drove a can and bulk milk truck route for sixteen years and dabbled at farming in the Ft. Ripley area. His next employment was with Tri-City Paving of Little Falls and then he went to work for Lakes Area Asphalt in Brainerd. He was a member of St. Mathias Church near Ft. Ripley and after retiring in 1987 Melvin assisted at the church doing custodial work and lawn mowing. Melvin and Pat eventually moved to Carlos, MN to be closer to family.
Some of Melvin's interests included hunting, winter spear fishing, farming and gardening. He was an avid Twins baseball fan and enjoyed playing cards with family and friends. Melvin will always be remembered for his hard work ethic and for lending a helping hand to anyone when needed. He was a kind and loving husband, father, grandpa and brother who will be dearly missed by all who knew him.
He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Lorraine 'Pat' Doucette of Carlos; his children, Connie (Roy) Thesing of Carlos, Harvey (Roberta) Doucette of Brainerd, Brenda (Rick) DeRosier of Alexandria, Brian (Janice) Doucette of Carlos, Lisa (Troy) Rediehs of Alexandria, Jean (Tab) Hendricks of Osakis; 19 grandchildren and many great grandchildren; 2 sisters, Joyce Johnson of Pillager and Virginia Borash of Royalton; sister-in-law, Dorothy Doucette of Little Falls; many nieces and nephews.
Melvin is preceded in death by his parents and his children, Terry, Dale, Mark and Mary Doucette and a brother, Daniel Doucette.
A Mass of Resurrection was held on Wednesday, August 12, 2009 at 10:30 am at St. Nicholas Catholic Church in Belle River, MN with Fr. David Petron officiating. Interment was at the church cemetery with his grandchildren and great grandchildren as honorary pallbearers. Active bearers were Greg, Jonathan and Maria Doucette, Brittney Hendricks, Matthew DeRosier and Brent Thesing.
Arrangements were with the Roy-Hetland Funeral Home in Osakis, MN.