Melissa Halvorson

Melissa Lea (Smestad) Halvorson, age 43, passed away at Altru Hospital, Grand Forks on January 19, 2018. Melissa was born September 13, 1974 in Mayville, ND to Beth (Naastad) Toay and Terry Smestad. She graduated from Grand Forks Central High School and later took her love of caring for others and became a registered nurse. Melissa married Casey Halvorson in 2001 and had three beautiful children, Olivia, Ella and Alexander. She loved her family, nursing, soccer, cooking and music. Melissa is survived by her ex-husband, Casey; children, Olivia, Ella and Alex; step-son, Andrew Hangsleben; mother, Beth (Michael) Toay; father, Terry Smestad; brother, Erik (Beth Kliethermes) Smestad; sister, Madeline (Zachary Swalley) Smestad; step brothers. Bruce Toay and Brian (Kristin) Toay; grandparents, Stan and Jean Smestad; nieces, Keira and Talia Kalenze, and Charlotte Swalley; and many other family members and friends. She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Ronald Naastad and Betty Lou Hanson; and uncles, Anthony Smestad and Gary Naastad. Melissa was a beautiful person inside and out. She will be missed dearly by all that knew her. Memorial Services will be 6:00 PM Friday, January 26, 2018 in Amundson Funeral Home of Grand Forks. Visitation will be for the hour before the service in the funeral home.