Medline Hettie Berger

Meldine Hettie Howell was born on March 24, 1937 at her parents farm near Ripley, Oklahoma. Meldine enjoyed growing up on her parent’s farm while she rode her cow bossy and squirrel hunting with her father Walter Howell.

As Meldine grew up, she enjoyed going to Free Silver School and Ripley Schools. While she was going to school, she played in the band and did things with her friends. She graduated from Ripley High School.

In 1955, Meldine married Emil Harmon Dahlke in her brother’s house, Clyde Howell, where many friends and family gathered.

Eventually, Emil and Meldine moved to Yukon. Emil and Meldine worked at Western Electric. After having two girls who lived just a few days, they adopted Lorrenda Gay in 1961 and Devin Scott in 1963.

Meldine quit work at Western Electric to stay at home with Lorre and Scott. She did various activities and worked with community organizations. She loved working for the election board and the Democratic Party. During this time, she was recognized as the Democratic Woman of the Year.

In 1973, she married Rodney Doyle Berger at the Methodist Church in Yukon, where they made their home and continued to live. Rod and Meldine started raising bulldogs, and after a while they started showing their dogs in various dog shows in the United States. They successfully raised many champion bulldogs. Their most famous bulldog was named Freddy who was known all over the world. As the years went by, Rod and Meldine started judging the bulldog shows. Meldine enjoyed traveling to various bulldog shows to judge. She was very proud she was asked to be a judge.

In the early 90’s Rod and Mel bought a bakery store called Famous Amos on the corner of 122nd and May Avenue in Oklahoma City. Meldine renamed the store Famous Mel’s. She got her famous cinnamon roll recipe from her sister Trellis McPeak. She made various cookies, pastries and cinnamon rolls. As time went on, she started catering lunches to businesses in the Oklahoma City area. Meldine was recognized.by governors and mayors for her civic contributions with her store.

Meldine passed away peacefully June 19, 2026. She was preceded in death by her parents Walter Howell and Sarah Howell; her brothers, Clyde Howell and Frank Howell; her sister, Trellis McPeak; her son Devin Scott Dahlke; and her husbands, Rod Berger and Emil Dahlke.

Meldine is survived by her daughter, Lorrenda Gay Hill; her granddaughter, Natalie Noel Hill; and her nieces and nephews: Dan and Mary Ann Maher, Jim and Kathi Howell, Mike and Carol Howell, Larry and Pam McPeak, Tom and Carolyn Bryant and Chuck and Candace McPeak.

A service of remembrance will be held on Saturday, July 18, 2026 at 11 a.m. at the First Christian Church in Crescent.