Melvin Tysver

Funeral Services for Melvin Tysver, 98, of Bowman, formally of Killdeer, will be 2:00 p. m. , Thursday, September 30, 2010 at Stevenson Funeral Home in Killdeer, North Dakota. Visitation will take place from 10:00 a. m. to 2:00 p. m. , Thursday, September 30, 2010 at Stevenson Funeral Home, Killdeer. Melvin passed away Thursday, September 23, 2010 at the Southwest Healthcare Center in Bowman, North Dakota. Melvin Edwin Herbert Tysver was born to Morgan D. and Mathilda (Handeland) Tysver on July, 31, 1912 at the homestead five miles south of Hazen in Oliver County. He was the second child born to the couple. Melvin farmed and leased land north of the Killdeer Mountains while working with his father. He then worked in the Hazen area for a few years before moving to western Minnesota and eastern North Dakota in 1947. In 1952, Melvin bought a well drilling rig with his brother to drill a well for the family. He began drilling wells from Grassy Butte to Halliday with most of the wells still in use today. After leaving the ranch north of the Killdeer Mountains, Melvin worked for the local blacksmith. On October 16, 1967, Melvin married Maggie Bray in Dunn Center. They eventually moved to a home in the gap between the north and south side of the mountains where they remained until Maggie became sick. They then moved into Killdeer. Maggie died on October 26, 1977, ten years and ten days after their marriage. Melvin was employed several years by the Gamble Store in Killdeer but retired in 1993 because of health problems. He was known to repair small motors and doing various plumbing jobs in Killdeer. He moved to Bowman in later years and entered Southwest Healthcare in 2006 where he resided until his death. Melvin enjoyed hunting and fishing and having his younger brothers? tag along. He enjoyed walking and was known to walk 20 miles into Killdeer and back home at night. While on the ranch he enjoyed raising kittens and rabbits. Melvin is survived by two brothers, Louis O. Tysver of Appache Junction, AZ and Jospeh (Annie) Tysver of Scranton, ND; two sisters, Alma Palmquist of Seattle, WA and Myrtle Lokken of Appache Junction, AZ and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Margaret and three brothers, David, Daniel & David John.


Burial Date: September 30, 2010
Funeral Home Killdeer, ND

Funeral Services: Thursday, Stevenson Funeral Home, Killdeer, North Dakota