Kristin Ohlson Melnikoff of Collbran, CO passed away on April 11, 2024. She was saved by her Lord and Savior in 1999 and attended Fellowship Church in Grand Junction and Calvary Temple Church in Kerrville, Tx.
She was an amazing wife, mother, sister, aunt and friend, Kris will be missed by many. She had an infectious laugh and loved nothing more than having fun and spending time with her family and friends.
Kris was born on May 1, 1966 in Chicago Il. She grew up in Evergreen, CO. She graduated from Tarleton State University with a degree in Agricultural Education.
She married the love of her life, Harry Melnikoff, in 2000. They settled in Collbran, CO where she was a very engaged member of the community.
One of the first organizations Kris joined was the Plateau Valley Cattle Women where she was a member for more than a decade. During that time, she served as President and in numerous other board positions. Additionally, her involvement led to her serving on the board of the Western Colorado Cattlewomen’s and as President. She also sat on the state-wide board as well.
After her tenure with Cattlewomen, she was appointed to the Town of Collbran Board of Trustees in 2019, where she then was elected to an additional four-year term in 2020. She was extremely proud of all the town projects they worked on, but especially proud of the broadband initiative and the auditorium restoration. Kris’ favorite town event was Fourth of July, and she looked forward to announcing the parade each year.
Aside from public office, she always wanted to lend a helping hand where she could. Kris volunteered hundreds of hours for organizations like Hope West, PV Cancer Fund, PV Roping Club, and PV Gymkhana helping ensure that the gaps behind the scenes were filled. She was honored to have served as the Cancer Fund spokesperson. Serving as auction “ring-help” was her favorite task to take up when volunteering.
She was a strong believer in education, inside the classroom and out. Kris helped bring the FFA and agriculture education program to Plateau Valley. It was always a joy for her serve on the Agriculture Advisory Committee for the Chapter and loved baking her famous Pecan Pie for the chapter banquet pie auction. More than all, she loved to see new members dawn the blue corduroy jacket for the first time and build employment skills through the program. Kris’s greatest honor was receiving the Honorary Chapter membership and Honorary State Membership of the FFA.
Substitute teaching was another avenue for her to give back to this community and make sure that all ranch kids were behaving in the classroom.
Once a month, she would gather for the “girls-only” bunco night, and it was her favorite place to reconnect with friends across the valley. Her favorite subject of conversation at the event was that of her boys and how her and Harry’s parenting payed off in the long run. As they each had found themselves in a good church with an “out-of-their-league” women by their side.
The only desire Kris ever had was that every once in a while, the “village” and all of its kiddos could get together over a good meal and maybe a campfire.
She is survived by her husband Harry, sons Brandon and Cody, brother Dana and his wife Nancy, sister Tracy, no shortage of nieces and nephews and numerous distant relatives. She is preceded in death by her parents, Bruce and Shirley Ohlson.
Services will be held April 26th at 3 p.m. at the Plateau Valley School. Donations to the Kristin Melnikoff Memorial Agriculture Education Scholarship Fund are requested in lieu of flowers. Please make checks to the Plateau Valley School with Kris Melnikoff Memorial Scholarship in the memo and send to Plateau Valley School, 56600 Hwy 330, Collbran, CO 81624.
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