Melvin Fuhrer was born February 23, 1926 on the family farm in Boyd County, Nebraska to Gustaf and Lydia (Bachmann) Fuhrer. He died September 3, 2012 at Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota at the age of 86 years, 6 months and 11 days.

Mel attended a country school in Boyd County until the eighth grade. He served in World War II from 1944 to 1946 as an infantryman in Okinawa, Japan. Following his military service, he farmed with his brother, Calvin, west of Naper, Nebraska. He moved to Bonesteel, South Dakota in 1952 and worked at the Mobil service station. On June 21, 1958, Melvin married Loretta Counts in Bonesteel. To this union five children were born. In 1969 he accepted a job with the Bonesteel Public School as a custodian and continued this position until his retirement in 1991.

Mel is survived by his wife Loretta of Bonesteel, SD; and his children: Wayne and wife Cindy of Lincoln, NE; Janet Griffin and husband Mark of Lincoln, NE; Scott and wife Nicole of Mitchell, SD; and Clinton and wife Heather of Bonesteel, SD. He is also survived by 13 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren; two sisters: Mary Ann Felker of Mt. Hood, OR and Betty Wesolouski of Wausaukee, WI; and by one brother, Don Fuhrer of Lady Smith, WI.

Mel was preceded in death by his parents, five siblings and his son, Dean.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, September 7, 2012 at 10:30 AM at the Calvary Bible Church in Bonesteel, SD. Burial will be in the Rosebud Cemetery, Bonesteel. Visitation will be Thursday from 4 PM to 8 PM, with a 7 PM prayer service, at Clausen Funeral Home in Burke.