Mrs. Berith V. (Ahlquist) Melin, 59, 5772 Newburg Road, died at 2 a.m., Sunday, Dec. 11, 1977, in Swedish-American Hospital after a long illness.  Born May 2, 1918, in Rockford, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Hjalmar Ahlquist.  She lived all her life in Rockford, and married Manfred J. Melin in Rockford, Feb. 1, 1942.  She was a member of the First Evangelical Lutheran Church; a member of Good Templars, Vasa Lodge, and Sandy Hollow Women's Golf Association.  Survivors include her husband, Manfred, two sons,  her mother, a sister, and several nieces and nephews.

Services at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 13, in FRED C. OLSON MORTUARY, 1001 2nd Ave., with the Rev. Arne Peterson, pastor of the First Evangelical Lutheran Church, officiating.  Burial in Sunset memorial Gardens.  No visitation.  Memorials may be sent to the American Cancer Society.

[NOTE:  Berith played center field for the Rockford Peaches in 1943.]