The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.



Meet Your Neighbor

Melinda Whiteman

Melinda (Harden) Whiteman was born in Burlington, IA and raised near Raritan on a farm. She now lives on her husband's (Vince) family farm near Biggsville.

Her parents, Duane and Norma Harden, farmed near Raritan for 50 plus years. Duane passed in 2016.

Melinda married Vince Whiteman on June 22, 1985 and they recently celebrated their 35th Wedding Anniversary.

Melinda has a sister Brenda Brokaw, and a brother Robert (Bob) Harden who both live in the rural Stronghurst area.

Vince and Melinda have two daughters Kristin Veteto (Columbia, MO), and Kayla Simmons (The Colony, TX) who have blessed them with five grandchildren: Trenton, Annabelle, Evelyn, Vincent and Hayes.

Melinda attended kindergarten in the old detached gymnasium building in Media, which was torn down many years ago. She attended 1st and 2nd grades in Raritan and 3rd and 4th grades in Stronghurst after the elementary schools consolidated. She graduated from Southern High School in 1984 and Robert Morris College in 1985.

After graduating, Melinda worked for Great River Medical Center for 17 years until 2002 when she worked for Eagle View Community Health Systems as the Executive Director for 14 years until 2016.

In 2016, Melinda started a job with MediQuire in New York, NY until 2019 as Sr. Sales Executive and Account Manager.

Currently, she is the administrative assistant for Regional Alternative Education Services (R.A.E.S.) at the regional office in Monmouth.

She has been working at home during the COVID shelter in place order. She originally started work at the Regional Office of Education on February 20 where she worked in the office for about a month and ever since she has been working at home.

Melinda enjoys reading, going to movies, traveling, spending time in her she-shed/cabin and most of all, spending time with Vince, her daughters and their families.

She and her family love to travel and have enjoyed many trips while the girls were growing up. Some of her favorites were Scotland in 2007 and 2019, and Colorado multiple times. The family took Melinda's parents to Disney World and then on a big Harden family Caribbean cruise all in the same trip.

Melinda's family has been on multiple trips to Hawaii with her husband's family as well.

Her outlook on life is that "life is short, enjoy every minute. Don't wait to travel and see the places you want to see. Do it now!" Melinda also feels you should "Never miss the opportunity to say, I love you!"