E. L. Vern Melius, age 88, of Huron died Wednesday, October 6, 2010 at SunQuest Health Care Center in Huron, SD.

His funeral service will be 2:00 pm Monday, October 11, 2010 at Riverview United Methodist Church with burial at Restlawn Memory Gardens Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 1-8 pm Sunday, October 10, 2010 at Welter Funeral Home with family present from 6-8 pm, or Monday afternoon one hour prior to the service at the church.

Vern was born on May 14, 1922 in Huron to Harold and Gladys (Hopper) Melius. He graduated from Huron High School in 1940 and excelled in Track. He was a member of a relay team that broke all the South Dakota records for relay events.

He married Marcella Moe on June 6, 1943 in Woonsocket, SD. Vern farmed until he took an apprenticeship and eventually a utility lineman job with Northwestern Public Service in 1954. After Marcella died in 1972, Vern moved to Crown Point, IN to work at St. Anthony Medical Center. There he met Mary Ellen Logsdon whom he married on June 6, 1988. The couple returned to Huron in 1997.

Vern was a member of the IBEW for over 50 years, and was the recipient of the Red Cross Life Saving Certificate for saving a citizens life while working in Highmore, SD. Vern loved to visit the Miners farms, helping with harvest and enjoyed dropping a line in the James River to see what was biting.

Vern is survived by his four children; Leland (Susan) Melius of Spring Valley, WI, Terry (Patsy) Melius of Lampe, MO, Cathy Yauney of Onida, SD, and Pam (Charles) Miner of Cavour, 9 grandchildren; Toby (Vicky) Sarahan, Jason (Diann) Sarahan, Jennifer Miner, Nelson Miner, Nathan Miner, Joe Melius, David Melius, Marci (Jason) Sims, Grady (Sarah) Melius, 6 great grandchildren; sister Jean (Ray) Krawchison of Glendale, AZ; nieces and nephews.

Vern was preceded in death by his parents; step-father, Simon Rhoads; wives, Marcella in 1972 and Mary in 2007; sister, Fern Smith; brother-in-law, Walter (Red) Murphy.