Nellie 'Melba' Fries

Melba Fries

Oct. 28, 19323 - March 27, 2012

BENKELMAN, Nebraska -- Nellie Melba (Ham) Fries, 88, died Tuesday (March 27, 2012), at the Sarah Ann Hester Home in Benkelman, Nebraska.

She was born Oct. 28, 1923, in rural Benkelman, the daughter of Ray Oliver and Nellie Josephine (Foster) Ham. She attended District 28 School and graduated from Benkelman High School in 1941. For several years, she taught in rural Dundy County Schools.

On Aug. 29, 1945, she married Guy Fries at St. Francis, Kansas. To this union nine children were born. In 2010 she moved to the Sarah Ann Hester Home in Benkelman.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Ray and Nellie Ham; three brothers, Marvin Ham in infancy, and Leon and Wayne Ham; three sisters, Hazel Ham in infancy, and Doris and Marjorie Ham; and husband Guy Fries of 64 years; brothers-in-law, Dale, Rodney Fries, and infant brother-in-law Charles; and infant sister-in-law Arda May Fries.

Survivors include nine children, Barbara Barent and husband, Wayne of Ogallala, Nebraska, Janet Applegarth and husband, Kurt of Palisade, Nebraska, Susan Todd and husband, Galen of Wauneta, Nebraska, Jerry Fries and wife, Cindy, Kenny Fries and wife, Marla, Richard Fries and wife, Valerie, John Fries, Lori Rettele and husband, Tim, Connie Kerchal and husband, Craig, all of Benkelman; brother, Ray Junior Ham and wife, Pat of Humbolt, Texas; step-brother-in-law, Robert Jones and wife, Irene of Rapid, South Dakota; sister-in-law, Inez Fries of Rapid, South Dakota; 17 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; four step-grandchildren; 10 step great-grandchildren; six great-great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be Friday, March 30, 2012., at 10 a.m. (MT), at the Benkelman United Methodist Church, with Rev. Brian Fong officiating.

Burial will be in the Benkelman Cemetery.

Forch Funeral Chapel at Benkelman is in charge of the arrangements.