Melanie Skarsten

Melanie Skarsten, age 46, of Fosston, MN, passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, July 4th, at her home. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 10th, at Kingo Lutheran Church in Fosston with the Rev. John Ragan officiating. Interment will be in Kingo Lutheran Cemetery, Fosston. Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. with a 7:00 p.m. prayer service on Tuesday, July 9th, at the Carlin Funeral Home in Fosston. There will also be reviewal for one hour prior to the service on Wednesday at the church. Arrangements are with Carlin Family Funeral Service of Fosston and messages of condolence may be sent at www.carlinfuneral.com. Melanie Kay Skarsten was born on February 24, 1973 in Fosston, Minnesota to parents Grant and Beverly (Nordlund) Skarsten. She was baptized and confirmed at Kingo Lutheran Church in Fosston. She was affectionately known as "lookin" to her family and close friends. She grew up in Heier Township, graduated from Fosston High School in 1991 and then attended one year of school at Bemidji Technical College. In 1992, Mel began employment at the Shooting Star Casino in Mahnomen working as a waitress. She met Brent Smith and together they lived in Frazee, Detroit Lakes and Waubun, Minnesota. While living in Waubun, Mel went back to work at the Casino, first in housekeeping and then as bartender for the next several years. Because of her ongoing health concerns, Mel moved back to her childhood home and was under the care of her loving family at the time of her passing. Melanie was a creative person. She was known to always have a camera in her hands to capture family times and enjoyed working on her art. She also enjoyed watching tv, listening to music, and nature. Mel's greatest enjoyment came from spending time with her family. She will be dearly missed.Survivors include her three children, Joseph Skarsten of Fosston, Jenna (Joey) Ward of Chesapeake, VA, and Tiffany Smith of Fosston; two grandchildren, Stryker and Mason Ward; her mother, Bev Skarsten of Fosston; two siblings, Lloyd Skarsten and Carla Thompson, both of Fosston; foster brother, Aaron Bixby of Spring Hill, TN; nieces and nephews, Cyril and Tyler Thompson, Alexis and Rachel Fleisher, and Jasmine Skarsten; and one great niece, Avery Thompson. She was preceded in death by her father, Grant, on September 3, 2017; and her grandparents.

Visitation

Tuesday, July 9, 2019 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Carlin Funeral Home-Erskine
326 Vance Ave. S. Erskine 56535, United States

Funeral Service

Wednesday, July 10, 2019 1:00 PM
Kingo Lutheran Church
220 N. Johnson Ave. Fosston 56542, United States