Ada Merle Winstead, 77, Minot and formerly of Rock River Wyoming died on Tuesday, July 10, 2012 in a Minot nursing home.

Merle was born on August 9, 1934 in Boone Prairie/Franklin TX to George Irving and Sula B. (Lentz) Neal. She was reared and educated there and graduated from Franklin High School in 1952. As a young adult she resided in Wichita, Kansas where she worked for Beech Aircraft. She moved to Fort Wayne, Indiana in 1957 where she operated a restaurant.

Merle married Richard Winstead on April 16, 1957 in Indiana. They made their home in McFadden, Wyoming before settling in Rock River, Wyoming where she and her husband owned a restaurant for many years. During this time Merle was appointed "Police Judge" and Dick was appointed "Deputy Marshall". Dick passed away in May of 1987. Following his death, Merle moved to Minot to assist her sister, Gladys Hayes, in the operation of her restaurant, Gladys' Place. They operated that restaurant until 2005 when Gladys died. Merle had worked part-time at Lydia's Caf for a short time until she retired in 2006 and devoted much of her free time to the Faith United Methodist Church Soup Kitchen and Food Pantry.

Merle was a member of Faith United Methodist Church - Minot and was a life member of the V.F.W. Auxiliary. Also, she was a member of the Women of the Moose Lodge and a former member of the Eagles and American Legion Auxiliaries. Merle especially enjoyed reading, sewing, traveling and she loved being outside. While living in Wyoming Merle and Dick owned their own airplane and Merle had her pilots license and loved flying. Also, she enjoyed hunting, shooting, pinochle, sewing, cooking and baking. She was a member of the Rock River Ladies Extension Club, Lioness Club, and was very active in the V.F.W. Auxiliary. A highlight of merle's life was a Mediterranean cruise with her friend Tina Schultz. She is especially dear to her family because of her positive attitude and for the special care she provided to many of her family members.

Merle is survived by her brother James "Frank" (Evelyn) Neal of Park City, Kansas, several nieces and nephews including Rickey James Neal, Brenda Dunn, and Karen Alderson as well as seven grand nieces and two grand nephews all of Wichita Kansas and her church family and friends.

Merle was preceded in death by her parents, husband, sister: Gladys Hayes and brother: George Neal.

Funeral Service: Friday, July 13, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. in Vincent United Methodist Church - Minot due to the flooding of Faith United Methodist Church.
Interment will be in Sunset Memorial Gardens - Minot.
Visitation: Thursday from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. in Thomas Family Funeral Home - Minot.
Memorials are preferred to the Faith United Methodist Church Soup Kitchen and Food Pantry.