- Date Of Birth: July 31, 1925
- Date Of Death: July 20, 2017
- State: Texas
Melvin was born on a farm east of Olin, Iowa, on July 31, 1925. He was the middle child of five children born to Alfred Carl and Dora Benischek Groth. He graduated from Olin Consolidated School in 1943. He then completed his business studies at the American Institute of Commerce in Davenport, Iowa. He began his working career with International Harvester Company in Chicago, Illinois.
While there, he met and married his wife, Mary Alice Vasek, on June 11, 1950. After eight years with International Harvester, Melvin moved his family to Indianola, Iowa to join Continental Belton Company. Three years later, he was transferred to the main office in Belton, Texas where he worked for the company for approximately thirty years. Later, he worked for Mallinger Truck Lines and KTON Radio Station.
In 1980, he built Grothway Square in Belton. He continued to manage Grothway Square and his ranch well into his late eighties. He was a 60 year member of the Rotary Club and received the Paul Harris award. He was also a member of the Masonic Lodge in Belton and a lifelong member of the Solomon Lodge in Lamont, Iowa. He also was a longtime member of the Southwest Cattle Raisers Association. Melvin loved his family and his ranch life. He never met a stranger. He always enjoyed people and being able to be involved with community events and his children’s and grandchildren’s activities.
His wife, Mary Alice Vasek Groth, preceeded him in death on April 2, 2004.
He is survived by two daughters, Janet Rand, and husband Willard, of Belton, Sybil Collins and husband, Mike, of Salado, and son, Blair Groth of Belton. He is also survived by two grandchildren, Megan Collins Sebek and husband Chance of Belton, and Seth Melvin Collins of Colorado Springs, Colorado. three granddaughters, Rowan Ruth Sebek, Collins Jane Sebek, and Ellory Faye Sebek of Belton. He is also survived by one sister, Carol Groth Kennedy of Pella, Iowa and many nieces and nephews.
