Melford 'Whitey' Aus

WADENA -- Melford "Whitey" Aus, 67, Wadena, formerly of Rugby, N.D., died Thursday, April 24, 2003, at Elders Home in New York Mills.

He was born Aug. 6, 1935, in Rugby, N.D., to Melvin and Anna (Sand) Aus. He graduated from Minot State Teachers College and received his master's degree at the University of North Dakota. He was an assistant varsity men's basketball coach at UND. He taught and coached in New Rockford, N.D., for two years and for a year in Minot before moving to Wadena in 1963. He taught and coached basketball in Wadena. He also coached the girls softball team in 1977. He played on the conference championship teams in 1954 and 1955 at Minot State and was inducted into the Minot State Athletic Hall of Fame on Sept. 24, 1988. He was named Minnesota Elk of the Year in 1998. He served in the Army from 1961-1962. He received the First Infantry Division U.S. Army Athletic Award as a member of the 1962 Engineer All-Star Basketball team at Fort Riley, Kan. He married Beverly Olivanti on Oct. 23, 1976, in Las Vegas. He taught at Wadena-Deer Creek High School, retiring in 1992. He was a lifetime member of the Elks, district hoop shoot chairman for 20 years, district drug awareness chairman for 20 years and involved in many officer positions with the Elks, American Legion.

Survivors include his wife, Wadena, and a sister, Lorna Heilman, Minot, N.D.

His parents, a brother, Mervin Aus, and a sister, Avonne Sheehan, died earlier.

Services will be 11 a.m. Monday at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Wadena with Pastor Marilyn Breckenridge and Pastor Jon Larson officiating. Military honors will be provided by Elmer Goche VFW Post 3922 of Wadena. Burial will be in Persilla Watts Cemetery in Rugby, N.D.

Friends may call from 9-11 a.m. Monday at the church.