Melvin D. Lake

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Melvin D. Lake, 70, of Flandreau, SD passed away at his home under hospice care on Sunday, February 18, 2018.

Melvin was born in Yankton, SD on January 15, 1948 to Melvin C. and Ione (Redwing) Lake. The family moved to Arizona before returning to Wilmot, SD where Melvin received his education. He entered the United States Army, serving from January 26, 1968 to January 25, 1974 during the Vietnam War where he earned a purple heart and bronze star. After being Honorably Discharged, Melvin returned to SD and attended barber school in Sioux Falls. He was united in marriage to Janice Blue and Melvin worked as a barber in Watertown. He moved to Sisseton and worked as a tribal officer for the Sisseton Wahpeton Sioux Tribe. He was united in marriage to Selva St. John on July 21, 1978 in Watertown and they moved to Flandreau in June of 1980. Melvin worked as a custodian at the Flandreau Indian School for many years until working as a landscaper in Sioux Falls until his retirement in 2011.

   Melvin is survived by his wife: Selva, seven children: Richard Lake, Flandreau, Breon (Dionne) Lake, Sisseton, Gwen (Loren) Archambeau, Sioux Falls, Tia Lake, Echo Lake, Amber (Augustine) Diaz, Rio Lake (Darren Hard Heart), all of Flandreau; son-in-law: Rowden Schipper, Flandreau; 18 grandchildren and three great grandchildren; four brothers: Tim (Kathy) Lake, Watertown, Donald Lake, Denver, CO, Gerald Lake, Fargo, ND and Lloyd (Laurie) Peniska, Wilmot, SD. He was preceded in death by his son, Roy Lake; his parents; four brothers, Richard, Harold “Buster”, Ronnie, an infant brother, Earl and a sister Aldene.

   Funeral Services will be at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, February 21, 2018 at Eastman Hall, Flandreau, with burial in Union Cemetery, Flandreau. Visitation begins 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 20, at Eastman Hall with a wake service beginning at 7:00 p.m. www.skrochfc.com