Lois Melton, Salem

Lois Melton, 81, Salem, died Friday, Jan. 4, 2013, at Sanford USD Medical Center, Sioux Falls.

She was born on Sept. 10, 1931.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Salem United Church, Salem.

Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday at Kinzley Funeral Home, Salem. Visitation will resume from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Friday at the church with the family present.

Lois Mardell Melton, daughter of Howard and Inez (Flint) Payton, was born in Chamberlain.

In 1932, the family moved to Philip, where her father ran the municipal power plant.

Six years later, the family moved to Salem, where Lois graduated high school.

While in high school, she was first chair in the band while playing the cornet.

After graduating, she spent some time attending the University of South Dakota.

In 1948, Lois met Philip “Phil” Melton while he was helping with the girls’ softball team.

They were married on Nov. 25, 1949, in Vermillion.

Throughout Lois’ life, she enjoyed bowling on the local bowling team for many years. She also enjoyed running Salem’s local antique shop, Melton’s Memories, being involved with the church and volunteering at the McCook County Historical Museum.

One of her favorite duties at the museum was researching genealogy for anyone searching for family history with connections to McCook County.

Lois was a homemaker raising six kids, driving them to and from after-school activities.

She is survived by her children: Clay (Pam) Melton, Russ Melton and Curt (Jean) Melton, all of Sioux Falls; Tim (Lesa) Melton, Salem; Karen Sicard, Lawrenceville, Ga.; and Lanita Melton, Hartford; grandchildren: Brittany Thue (Bryce Horner), Natasha and Nichole Melton, Martin and Kaitlyn Sicard, Zach and Machaela Mehlbrech, and Matthew and Marcus Melton; and great-grandchildren: Annie and Violet Horner.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Howard and Inez Payton; her brother, Lyle Payton; her sister, Alice Paulsen; and her husband, Philip.

Tags: lois melton, obituaries

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