Melba Pauline (Wittrock) Rader, age 88 of Ft. Morgan, Colorado went to be with her Lord and Savior on Friday, July 26, 2024 in Julesburg, Colorado.  She was born April 20, 1936 at Taylor Hospital – Sidney, Nebraska to Louis A. Wittrock and Stella L. (Stein) Wittrock the first of eleven children.  Melba was Baptized into the Christian faith on May 10, 1936 at St. Peter's Lutheran Church – Potter, Nebraska and she confirmed that faith on April 2, 1950 at St. Paul's Lutheran Church - Sidney, Nebraska.

She worked several odd jobs over the years helping several individuals from babysitting, house & yard work, high school library, high school office, for the Home Economics teacher, to cleaning dentist and lawyers' offices.  She graduated from Sidney High School, Sidney, Nebraska on May 19, 1954.  After graduation she went to work for the North Central Gas Co. in Sidney, Nebraska as a bookkeeper.  She worked part time from May 2, 1987 to February, 2003 for Caring Ministries of Morgan County as Assistant Director.

Melba was married on July 17, 1955 to Ray Rader at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Sidney, Nebraska and they enjoyed 66½ years together before Ray's passing on March 27, 2022.  They were blessed with 3 Children; 11 Grandchildren and 13 Great Grandchildren.

Ray & Melba bought a 5-unit Motel & Trailer House Park and moved to Ft. Morgan, Colorado in January of 1957.  Shortly thereafter the width and length of trailer houses increased and so their Park no longer accommodated the bigger trailers.  Ray returned to working in the oil field.  Melba has been a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Ft. Morgan for 67 years.  She served her Lord and Savior many years on different committees for Trinity Lutheran Church and on the Society, Zone and District level for Lutheran Women's Missionary League.

Melba is survived by; two daughters, Joline (Rev. Trenton D.) Christensen of Julesburg, Colorado; Marlinda (Randy) Dillenburg of Chappell, Nebraska and one son, Allan (Susan) Rader of Ft. Collins, Colorado, 11 Grandchildren and 13 Great Grandchildren, 3 sisters Doris Riewe of Longmont, Colorado; Shirley (Eddie) Neel of Sidney, Nebraska & Arlyce (Richard) Hoschouer of Sidney, Nebraska, 1 brother Lynn Wittrock of Colorado Springs, Colorado; 1 brother-in-law, Kae Nelson of Sidney, Nebraska; 1 sister-in-law Carol Wittrock of Douglas, Wyoming; 3 sisters-in-law, Irene Knappert of Arapahoe, Nebraska; Connie Rader of Lexington, Nebraska and Patsy Rader of Sumner, Nebraska, many cousins, nieces and nephews and extended family and friends and greater Church family.

She was preceded in death by her parents, in-laws, 3 brothers and 3 sisters including a set of twins born premature, 8 brothers-in-law and 3 sisters-in-law.

A memorial service celebrating God's Amazing Grace and Melba's entry into eternal life will be held on Saturday, September 14th, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. at Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer, 1100 West Platte Ave., Ft. Morgan.  Private Inurnment will take place prior to the service.

Memorial donations may be made to Trinity Lutheran Church and School; The Lutheran Hour or Lutheran Women's Missionary League.

The Lord Jesus said, "Believe and thou shalt be saved.  Acts 16:31

"These things are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God and believing you may have life in His name."   John 20:31.

This is Melba's prayer for each and every one of you.