Funeral services for Melvin O. Evenson, age 84 of Lemmon, will be held at 10:00am Friday, June 13, at the Prince of Peace Chapel of the Evanson-Jensen Funeral Home in Lemmon. Neale Lorius will officiate with burial in Greenhill Cemetery.


Serving as casketbearers are Josh Wenner, Dallas and Robin Cole, Kermet and Cindy Kahl, and Tim Lorius.


MELVIN OSCAR EVENSON was born August 9, 1923 at White Butte, SD to Martin and Amelia (Berndt) Evenson. He attended grade school through grade eight. Melvin ranched until he was inducted into the US Army on June 29th 1944. He served in the United States Army for two years during World War II. He was Honorably Discharged July 7th 1946.


Melvin was united in marriage to Esther Lang in 1960 at Lemmon, SD.


Melvin raised cattle and horses and trained horses for many years. He continued to be involved in ranching until his health began to fail. In 1999 Melvin and Esther moved into Lemmon. He enjoyed working with leather and continued to do leather work after moving into town.


He passed away on Tuesday, June 10, 2008 at the West River Regional Medical Center in Hettinger.


Surviving are his wife Esther; 3 sons, Justin (Kathy), Jay and Jerry; 1 brother, Ray Evenson; 2 sisters, June Maier and Lillian Bridges; special friends, Neale Lorius, Rob Hotalling, Brenda Carroll and Thane Escott.


He was preceded in death by his parents, 3 brothers, Clarence, Edward, and Stanton; 3 sisters, Rose, Ruth and Agnes, a half-brother Charles and a half-sister Mildred.