Butch Mellom

Butch Mellom, 70, of Willmar, died Wednesday, September 15th after a courageous battle with glioblastoma multiforme. His funeral service will be at 11:00 am, Monday, September 20th at Living Hope Evangelical Free Church in Willmar. Visitation will be from 3:00-5:00 pm, Sunday at Harvey Anderson Funeral Home in Willmar and continue one hour prior to his service. Burial will be in Cloverleaf Cemetery in Willmar. Donations can be made to Carris Health Hospice or GlenOaks Care Center. www.hafh.org 

Sherwood Orlando “Butch” Mellom Jr., was born January 18, 1951, to Sherwood “Bud” Sr. and Charlotte (Blegen) Mellom in Wadena. He and his family lived in Raymond, until Butch was in kindergarten, before moving to Willmar. He graduated from Willmar High School with the Class of 1969. Butch continued his education at Augustana University where he focused on broadcasting. Following college, Butch started working at Q102 and also briefly at a radio station in Sioux Falls before beginning a 30-year career as an over the road truck driver. He also spent a few years working for Willmar Electric where he was able to put his extensive safety knowledge to more use by training others. Butch loved driving, taking in the sights and spending time with his wife, Kristel Hart. He drove in all of the continental US, his favorite state being Washington. He was a member of Living Hope and volunteered as an adult Sunday school teacher, men’s ministry, mowed the church lawn and was also on the elder board. Butch enjoyed hunting, fishing, and driving anything that could go fast.

Butch is survived by his wife, Kristel; daughter, Kjersta (Chris) Meium; step-children: Kelly (Rob) Twedt, Aaron (Lisa) Pierce; grandchildren: Jillian and Reagan Twedt; and siblings: Kathy Williams and Kristen (Terry) Tone; brother-in-law, Stacey Porter; and several nieces, nephews and other family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, sister, Cindy Porter, brother-in-law, John Williams, nephew, Mark Williams, and mother- and father-in-law, Sharlene and Robert Hart.

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