Melvin Russell Schwendiman passed away on Saturday morning, March 24, 2018. He had been residing in the Homestead Assisted Living Residence for the last 2 years and is where he passed away of natural causes having lived a long and great life.

Melvin was born on July 16, 1921 in Newdale Idaho to Rudolph Schwendiman and Clara Frances Hodgson and was the sixth of eight children (4 boys, 4 girls). He graduated from Sugar-Salem High School in 1939. The following year Melvin married his high school sweetheart, Faye Holman, in the Salt Lake City LDS Temple on Sept. 12, 1940.

In May of 1945, Melvin was drafted into WWII, leaving Faye and 2 young children (Deon-3 and Randy-1). He served in Germany for 11 months where his responsibilities included being a driver in the motorcade and a guard over prisoners of war. He didn't talk much about his time in the war until the last few years, as he said it wasn't a very happy experience.

After returning from the Service, Melvin needed to "care for a wife and 2 young children" and worked at any odd job he could find. By the end of that summer he had enough money to buy their first home which they moved from Sugar City to Newdale and put on a basement foundation they had dug on one of his father's lots. He started farming with his father until little by little, he and Faye were able to acquire pieces of ground that became their own farm. Farming was his way of life until he retired.

Soon after retiring, he and Faye served an 18 month mission in Nauvoo Illinois where they mostly worked in the visitors center. While in Nauvoo, they played a big part in the many musical variety shows that the missionaries put on, both of them singing and Melvin also played the harmonica.

Melvin and Faye loved music and were very talented. They sang in ward choirs, sang in quartets, Faye played the piano and Melvin was a very accomplished harmonica player. Maybe it was the love of music that drove him to be a huge fan of the Bar-J Wranglers. He and Faye would travel to Jackson multiple times every summer to attend their shows and enjoyed taking their family and close friends with them each year. They also took a number of trips to Branson Missouri to attend all of the musical productions there.

Melvin was a real cowboy. He loved riding horses and always owned several of them. Some of his favorite rides were in Bechler Meadows and amongst the Tetons.

They really enjoyed traveling and seeing all of the great scenery our country has to offer but when all is said and done, their favorite places were Yellowstone and Mormon Row in the Jackson Hole.

Melvin served in many bishoprics and various other church callings. He had an infallible testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He has missed his sweet wife for these 7 years and we are sure that joyful reunion far surpasses any sadness his loved ones feel in his passing.

Melvin was loved by anyone who had the opportunity to meet him. He appreciated the many individuals who cared for him these last 5 years and his family wishes to express their appreciation for those angels as well.

Miss you Dad!

Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, March 28th at the Newdale LDS Chapel. The family will receive friends Tuesday evening from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. at Flamm Funeral Home in Rexburg, then again from 10:00 to 10:45 a.m. at the church prior to services. Interment will be in the Teton-Newdale Cemetery with Military Rites.