Alfred & Clara Melby Endowed Scholarship Fund

The Alfred & Clara Melby Endowed Scholarship Fund at Luther Seminary was established in September 2015, by Russ and Jan in memory of Russ’s parents, Alfred R. and Clara B. [Pedersen] Melby. Alfred and Clara met at the Model Laundry in Fargo, North Dakota, in the early 40’s. Alfred was in the military and their first and only child was born relatively late in their lives. Clara served faithfully as the “housekeeper” of American Lutheran Church (now Peace Lutheran) in Fargo, and was grieved by many there when she died. Though Alfred died when Russ was very young, and his mother died before she retired, Russ continues to be powerfully influenced by their legacy of involvement and commitment to the church and the community. They were the catalyst for his own decision to serve the church as an ordained pastor and, for both Jan and Russ, to encourage the calls of other future church leaders by offering scholarship support in their memory. This fund provides important support for financially deserving M.Div. students, to help future generations of pastors be well prepared for ministry.