Obituary of Melvin Patton

Melvin (Pat) Patton, age 88 of Utica, SD passed away surrounded by his family on Sunday, June 9, 2013 at Avera Sacred Heart Hospital Yankton, SD. Funeral service will be 10:30 AM, Thursday, June 13, 2013 at the Opsahl-Kostel Funeral Chapel, Yankton with Rev. Ron Johnson officiating. Burial will be in the Garden of Memories with military graveside rites by the Ernest-Bowyer VFW Post #791 Honor Guard, SDARNG Honor Guard, Sioux Falls, and the Patriot Guard Riders. Visitations will be from 3-8:30 PM, Wednesday, June 12, 2013 at the Opsahl-Kostel Funeral Home and Crematory, Yankton with a 7 PM Prayer service. Visitations will resume one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Pallbearers will be his 6 Grandchildren and honorary pallbearers will be his 13 great-grandchildren. Melvin was born on June 6, 1925 to Jess and Edith (Bosteder) Patton in Dallas, SD. He spent his childhood in the Midwest and finished his education at Grove School in Yankton. On December 7, 1942 he was sworn into the U.S. Navy and was on the aircraft carrier Yorktown. He was a Seaman First Class and spent his time serving his country in the South Pacific in the Philippine Islands. He was honorably discharged December 1945. Melvin married the love of his life, Sylvia Kralicek, on February 11, 1947 in Yankton. They met while he was working for her Father and Brother on a farm Northwest of Yankton. To that union two children were born, Janice and David. Together, they farmed two miles South of Utica their whole married life and had 64 wonderful years together. Melvin also worked building Gavins Point Dam and the Oahe Dam in Pierre, SD. Melvin was a member of the United Methodist Church in Yankton and a lifetime member of the VFW. Melvin will be remembered for always being there to help, whether it was taking someone to an appointment or delivering Grandma's homemade goodies to all the family. He always had a tootsie roll in his pocket for the Grandkids and a smile and candy for everyone at Fryn' Pan. Melvin is survived by his daughter Janice (Frank) Vellek, Yankton; his son, David, Utica; Grandchildren and families: LeeAnn (Randy) Freng and their children Katie and Karlie; Lisa (Rob) Barger and their children Kayla, Austin, and Dillon; Michelle (Jim) Stucky and their children Jake (Britta Stenstrom) a great-great-grandchild to be born in September, Jared, and Marisa; Mark (Tami) Vellek and their children Payton and Tori; Richard (Brenda) Vellek and their children Jordynn, Dawson, and Easton; and Kristi Patton; brother, Paul Sangster, Jr., Wakonda; and sisters-in-law Dorothy Kralicek, Yankton, Iola Becvar, Tyndall, and Lorraine Schwarz, Tyndall and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife Sylvia on June 29, 2011, his parents, brother Emanuel, a sister in infancy and several brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.