Don McLean

January 6, 2022

Alvin Donald (Don) McLean, 98, formerly of Burr Oak, died Monday, Dec. 27, at the Smith Center Health and Rehabilitation Center. He was born in Tees, Alberta, Canada on May 15, 1923, to Robert John and Sarah McLean.

Don was united in marriage to Elva Frances Roesti on Aug. 4, 1943, near their home in Alberta, Canada. This union was blessed with five children: Gwendolyn Ann, Richard Alvin, Karen Jean, Donna Lee and Dixie Louise.

In 1948 Don, Elva and the two oldest children moved from Tees, Alberta, to Aiken, Minn., where he worked on a turkey farm. After being flooded out by the Mississippi River in 1950, they moved to a farm near Burr Oak. In the late 1960s, Don and Elva purchased the Lewis Hardware business in Burr Oak and operated that business until 1977. During this time Don still farmed and did so until he retired in 2007.

His personal relationship with the Lord guided and comforted Don throughout his entire life and death. He was a member of the Wesley Center Wesleyan Church, Belleville Wesleyan Church and Smith Center Church of the Nazarene.

Don was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Elva; daughter, Karen; and son, Richard (Pastor Rich).

Surviving are his children, Gwen (Ernie) Carroll of Parker, Colo .; daughter-in-law, Helen of Wichita; Donna (Doug) Worcester of Melissa, Texas; Dixie (Mike) Dethloff of Mankato; seven grandchildren; 15 great-children with a great-grandson who will be born in March, 2022.

Visitation was held Sunday, Jan. 2, from 1 to 8 p.m., with family greeting friends from 5 to 7 p.m., at Melby Mortuary in Mankato.

His funeral was at 1 p.m., Monday, Jan. 3, at the Nazarene Church in Smith Center, Kansas, with Pastor Jeremy Carr officiating. Burial followed at the Burr Oak (Kansas) Cemetery.

Memorials are suggested to the Mankato Senior Center or Smith Center Nazarene Church, and may be sent in care of Melby Mortuary, PO Box 384, Mankato, Kan. 66956.

Melby Mortuary of Mankato assisted the McLean family with these arrangements, http://www.melbymortuary. com