JoAn Elizabeth Melchild, age 83, of Ortonville, Minn., died Monday, July 15, 2013.
Memorial services will be 10 a.m. Monday, July 29, at Mundwiler & Larson Funeral Home. Visitation begins at 10 a.m. Interment will be in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, Artesian.
JoAn Elizabeth Dodd Melchild was born to Burton Moffat Dodd and Lela (Harrison) Dodd on Feb. 13, 1930 in Artesian. She graduated from Artesian High School in 1947 and went on to study at South Dakota State and the Minneapolis Institute of Arts.
She worked for many years as an editor, journalist and photographer for organizations including: “The Sun” newspaper in Minneapolis; The Green Giant Company; “The Homemaker” magazine; Cenex; and the “Cumberland Advocate” in Cumberland, Wis.
JoAn had a lifelong passion for art.  She traveled to attend art classes and loved to share her passion by teaching others.  She moved to Ortonville in 2001 and was involved in the Big Stone Arts Council.
She also loved doing genealogy research – even traveling to England several times to discover her roots.
JoAn is survived by her children, Ann Garcia, Tom Melchild and Janet Vance; six grandchildren; and two great-grandsons; extended family and many lifelong friends.
Mundwiler and Larson Funeral Home of Ortonville is in charge of arrangements for JoAn Melchild. To leave condolences online, please visit www.mundwilerfuneralhome.net.