Lonnie Lou (Melham) Garza

Lonnie Lou Melham Garza, age 63, Apache Junction, AZ, formerly of Vienna, died on Saturday, January 30, 2010 in the Banner Baywood Hospice Home in Mesa, AZ. UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE A Memorial Service will be held on May 11, 2010 at 2PM in the Bethlehem Lutheran Church at Vienna with burial in the Vienna Lutheran Cemetery. Pastor Dave Larson will officiate. There will be no visitation. She was born on May 9, 1946 at Watertown, SD, the daughter of W. O. Bill and Leona (Thompson) Melham. She attended Vienna elementary school and then Willow Lake High School. Lonnie was baptized and confirmed in the Bethlehem Lutheran Church at Vienna. On June 1, 1964 she was united in marriage to Ardell Walter. To this union two children were born. He passed away on June 25, 1988. They lived in Watertown and also in Sacramento, CA. While in Watertown, she was employed at the Jenkins Living Center and Minnesota Rubber. Lonnie was known for being a compassionate person and cared for foster infants until the parents were able to take them home. In May of 1979 she married Merle Ehlebracht in South Dakota. They later divorced. She moved to Apache Junction, AZ in 1989 and married Steve Garza on June 17, 1994 in Apache Junction. She loved the elderly and worked in various care centers. Due to failing health, she retired in 2005 when she was the manager of the Cactus Club. Her grandchildren were her true enjoyment, along with her paintings. Lonnie was an accomplished doll maker and crafter. Her latest passion was oil painting with outstanding portraits of family and animals. She was an avid biblical reader and read her Bible faithfully each day, reaffirming her faith in Christ as her personal Savior. She attended the Calvary Chapel Church in Apache Junction. She was preceded in death by her parents, first husband, Ardell Walter, and a brother, Keith Melham. Survivors include her husband Steve Garza of Apache Junction, AZ, a daughter, Kim Sheppard of Houston, TX, a son, Jay Walter of Apache Junction, AZ, two grandchildren, Bryce and Briley Sheppard of Houston, TX. She also leaves two sisters, JoAnn ( Willis) Urdahl of Watertown, SD and Kay (Kenneth) Broman of Covington, WA and a sister-in-law, Ann Melham of Watertown and several nieces and nephews. Furness Funeral Home of Clark is serving the family. On-line registry and condolences at www.furnessfuneralhome.com