Edmunds County Tribune -

Memorial Services for Melvin Thomas Pitz 83 of Mina will be on Monday, September 16, 2019 at 10:30 am at Schriver’s Memorial Mortuary, 414 5th Ave NW Hwy 281 N, Aberdeen. Celebrant will be Fr. Thuringer.

Melvin’s wishes were to be cremated and burial will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery. Melvin passed away on Sunday, September 8, 2019 at Avantara Redfield Nursing Home.

Melvin T. Pitz was born on March 19, 1936 to John R. and Mary Pitz in Aberdeen. Melvin was raised on a farm southwest of Mina. He graduated from Warner High School in 1954. Melvin married June Cameron on July 14, 1956 in Aberdeen. Melvin worked construction and was a rodeo cowboy. In 1961, they moved to a ranch near Forbes, N.D. In 1977, they moved to Mina to the farm where Melvin grew up.

Melvin was a farmer, truck driver, carpenter and a Jack of all Trades. He could fix anything. In 1977, Melvin moved into the Town of Mina. He married Gloria Paggett on December 29, 1994. Melvin was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease and moved to Ipswich Health and Rehab in January 2015; to Groton Care & Rehab in 2017 and to Avantara Redfield in 2019.

Surviving Melvin are his children, Debra (Kent) Weiszhaar of Leola, Pamela (Gerry) West of Belle Fourche, Thomas of Aberdeen, William of Mitchell, Wayne (Leona) of Mina, and Benjamin (Emily) of Rapid City; eight grandchildren and six great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandchild; brother, Merle (Doris) Pitz; sister, Beverly Bauer; brother-in-law, Richard (VeEtta) Cameron; and his nieces and nephews.

Melvin was preceded in death by his parents, June Cameron, Gloria Paggett, one infant brother, one sister, two brothers in-law, one niece, and one nephew.

Honorary pallbearers will be Wendi and Troy Weig, Heather Weiszhaar and Michael Trivelli, Dustin and Tammy Pitz, Andrea Pitz and Cosmo Varriano, Jeremiah West and Julie Anne Zimny, Brianna Pitz, Ashley Pitz and Evan Johnson, and Autumn Pitz.

Schriver’s Memorial Mortuary & Crematory will be in charge of arrangements. Friends may sign in at www.schriversmemorial.com