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Melanie Susan Ringstad, 64, of Duluth, MN, passed away peacefully, with her sister and brother at her side, on December 8, 2025, at Heritage Haven.
She was born on July 18, 1961, child of Robert and Carol Ringstad. Melanie grew up in the Lincoln Park and Piedmont neighborhoods, graduated from Denfeld High School in 1979 and moved to Minneapolis, MN the same summer. She worked for Target Corporation for many years as an IT store support specialist. During this time she also spent weekends as a stand-up comedian on the club circuit in the Midwest. Later, she came out of retirement and began work as a waitress at Broadway Pizza in Robbinsdale where she really felt at-home. With her open personality, outrageous sense of humor, kind heart and attentive listening skills, she could turn a stranger into a life-long friend in minutes. The friends made there were instrumental in providing her with emotional support during her three-year battle with cancer.
Melanie loved a good cup of coffee, lunching out with friends and cousins, collecting carnival glass, hours spent in her beautiful garden, and playing with her beloved pups, Copper and Cooper. She also loved spending time with family at the lake and weekends and holidays at her sister’s home in Duluth. She was a favorite great auntie to Elena and Kyra, tirelessly playing hokey-pokey with them in their early years and attending or live-streaming their dance competitions later.
Melanie was preceded in death by her parents.
She will be deeply missed by her sister, Terri (Keith) Nokleberg of Duluth, MN; brother, Robert (Yvonne) Ringstad of Cloquet, MN; niece, Kate (Ryan) Matson of Duluth, MN and their daughters, Elena and Kyra; cousins, Linda Parent of San Francisco, CA, Susan (William) Camuel of Chanhassen, MN, Karen (Alan) Rees of Fairfield, CA, and Laurie Parent of San Francisco, CA; and by the many friends who were like family to her.
The family would like to thank the entire staff of Aspirus St. Luke’s Hospice, especially Jennifer, Melanie’s RN, for their compassionate care and support given to Melanie and her family. We are truly grateful.
A private family service and internment at Park Hill Cemetery will take place at a later date.
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