Melvin Carl Vick, 93
Melvin Carl Vick, 93, died Tuesday, May 10, 2005, at Brendan House in Kalispell.
He was born Aug. 18, 1911, on a homestead near Assiniboia, Saskatchewan, to Carl Torvel and Margaret Effie (Baldry) Vick. He was the oldest of seven children. His family eventually settled in Opheim where they homesteaded.
He attended school through the eighth grade, and then had a varied and interesting work life. He did ranch work, "riding for cattle," "hoboed" to several fire fighting jobs and even did a short stint of copper mining in Butte.
He married Myrtle May Rogers, Aug. 31, 1934, in Fairview. They made their home on a homestead in Opheim and had two daughters, Patricia "Patsy" Phyllis and Maren Lucina Vick.
They moved to Knob Noster, Mo., in October 1940. Melvin and Myrtle did the harvest run with their girls and his parents for many years.
He became an ironworker in 1954 and moved his family to the Flathead to help build the Columbia Falls Aluminum Plant. In 1956 they moved to Trout Creek to build a bridge and then to Opheim where he managed the Farmers Union Store.
In late 1957, they moved back to Missouri. He had a farm in Holden, Mo., from 1961 to 1984, when they moved back to Kalispell.
He entertained many people with his violin and guitar. He loved his music! He played with the Golden Returns, who entertained the residents of Brendan House, and other nursing homes all over the valley.
He was a member of the Reorganized Church of Latter-day Saints.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Myrtle, on Aug. 9, 2004; daughter, Patsy, on Oct. 17, 2003; two brothers and two sisters.
Melvin is survived by his daughter, Maren Nestegard, and husband, Larry, of Kalispell; a brother, Kenneth Vick, and wife, Phyllis, of Hamilton; and a sister, Dorothy Graham, of Holden; four grandsons, Victor, Jeffrey, Scott Nelson and David Graham; one step-granddaughter, Allison (Nestegard) Hawes, of Kalispell; six great-grandsons and one great-granddaughter; many cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.
A memorial service is planned during the family reunion July 4 or 5.