Phillipsburg resident Melba Noreen Ehm passed away February 10, 2022 at the Phillips County Retirement Center at the age of 90.

She was born to Julius and Sedonia (Hofmockael) Buchta on March 19, 1931 on a farm near Russellville, Mo.

Melba attended Russellville Grade and High School.  After graduation, she managed the grocery department in Shubert Mercantile Store in Russellville.

She was united in marriage to Virgil Ehm on October 11, 1953 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Russellville.  He was serving in the U.S. Air Force and they made their home in Ft. Worth, TX until he was transferred to El Paso, TX.  After his discharge they moved to Phillipsburg and farmed until they semi-retired in Phillipsburg.

She participated in many activities in the Emmanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church.  She always looked forward to her grand and great grandchildren's visits and birthday celebrations.

She was preceded in death by her parents; father and mother-in-law, brother, sister, 2 brother's-in-law, and a nephew.

Survivors include her husband Virgil, son Dwight, and daughter Diane Zillinger and her husband James, all of Phillipsburg; sister Ellen Strobel of Lohman, MO; sister-in-law Leota Ehm of Indianapolis, IN; 2 grandchildren Dan Zillinger of Stuttgart and Sara Biggs and husband Barrett of Hays; great grandchildren Lily, Ava, and Mya Biggs and Joel, Eli, and Paisley Zillinger; and many other relatives and friends.

Memorial services will be Saturday, May 14, 2022 at 10:30 a.m. in the Emmanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church, Stuttgart, with Pastor Lee Bennight officiating.  Inurnment will follow in the Emmanuel Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6:30 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Friday, May 13, 2022 at the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel for visitation.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice Services, Inc., Phillips County Retirement Center, or the Emmanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church.