Melvin Armfield

Tilden — Melvin Keith Armfield, 86, of Tilden, formerly of Naper, died Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2021 at Fiath Regional Medical Center in Norfolk.

Visitation was held Monday, Dec. 13, 2021 at Biglin's Mortuary in O'Neill.

Funeral services were held Monday, Dec. 13, 2021 at the mortuary in O'Neill. Pastor Matt Gilmore officiated.

Burial was in the Pleasant Valley Cemetery north of O'Neill with military rites provided by the O'Neill American Legion Simonson Post 93.

Memorials may be made to the family for future designation.

Melvin was born Sept. 21, 1935 in Naper, to Ralza and Amanda (Nelson) Armfield. He went to grade school in the Naper area. He moved with his family to Oregon for a time but later returned to the Naper area.  

On Aug. 21, 1958, Melvin was drafted into the United States Army and stationed at Fort Bragg, NC during the Korean Conflict. While in the Army, he earned his GED.  

After discharge on July 12, 1960, he returned to the Naper area where he met his future wife Evelyn Hood at church in Butte. The two were married on Dec. 31, 1959 at the Wesleyan Parsonage in O'Neill. The couple was blessed with three children Daniel, Joan and Derrick. 

Melvin worked on the Storjohann ranch until the family moved to Burke, SD to work on the family ranch. The family lived in Anoka for a time, before moving to O'Neill. 

In 1975, they moved to Montana.  He worked for a trucking company, delivering gas and propane. The couple lived there until retiring in 2000. They then moved to Huron, SD for a couple years. In 2004, they made the move to Tilden.  

Melvin was a member of Northern Heights Baptist Church in Norfolk.  

He enjoyed fishing when he was younger and gardening.  

He was very active in his church, enjoying Bible studies, men's groups and helping out around the church.  

Melvin is survived by his two sons Dan (Tessie) Armfield of Mesa, AZ and Derrick (Christine) of Cedar Hill, Texas; eight grandchildren; one great-grandchild; three siblings Avis Doring of Wilmar, MN, Shirley (John) Goennier of Palm Desert, CA and Donald Armfield of Downing, CA; and several nieces and nephews.  

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Evelyn Armfield in 2013, his daughter Joan Tomcko in 2017 and two siblings Roland Armfield and Darlene (Frank) Spotanski.