Melinda Goodknight

Melinda Goodknight, 98, Jamestown, ND died Tuesday, November 20, 2012 at Eventide at Hi-Acres, Jamestown.

Melinda Sperling was born February 21, 1914, the daughter of Henry and Emma (Hagel) Sperling and grew up on their grain and cattle farm south of Sykeston. She attended country school in Lowery Township and graduated from Sykeston High School in 1933. She worked different jobs in Bismarck and later taught school in Washington and California. She later decided to take a course in nursing and graduated from Glendale Adventist Medical Center in 1956. She worked in Los Angeles Hospital for many years and then moved to Nebraska. She retired in 1984 and moved to Jamestown, to be near siblings who resided there.

Melinda was a lifelong member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and a member of the Jamestown Hospital Auxiliary. She was devoted to several Pekingese dogs that she owned through the years, was an avid reader and enjoyed doing volunteer work.

Melinda is survived by special niece, Betty Klundt, Medina, ND; nephew-in-law, William Zeigler; two great-great nieces, Alana (Warren, Christopher and Matthew) Evens and Sharda Lemburg, Omaha, NE.

She was preceded in death by her parents; three sisters, Eldina Pfaff, Velma Picha and Elane Banik; one brother, Arthur Sperling; two nieces, Phyllis (Elroy) Kapfer and Nola (Banik) Zeigler and cousin, Harlow Hagel.