Melody Tilton, age 35, of rural De Smet, died Monday, October 18, 2004, at Sioux Valley Hospital at Sioux Falls. Her funeral service will be at 10:30 AM Thursday, October 21, at Faith Mennonite Church, 6 miles north of Iroquois, with Pastor Lonnie Penner and Pastor Phil Penner officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Friends may call this Wednesday afternoon from 1:00 to 4:00 PM at the Welter Funeral Home or from 7:00 to 9:00 PM this Wednesday evening at the Faith Mennonite Church, or Thursday morning prior to the service at the church. There will be a Devotional Service at 8:30 PM this Wednesday evening at the church. Melody Rose was born to Jesse and Henrietta Friesen on October 1, 1969, in Steinbach, Manitoba, Canada. Without a chance to say goodbye, she peacefully went home on October 18, 2004. She reached the age of 35 years. She grew up in Ste. Anne, Manitoba, with the exception of six years which she spent in Mexico with her family where she made life-long friends. Being the oldest in the family she faithfully took responsibility at home whenever her parents were busy in the Lords work. At the age of twelve she answered the call of God and was baptized into the Church of God in Christ Mennonite. She had a strong faith in God and nothing was too small to bring to Him in prayer. Throughout her life, her spontaneous, outgoing personality won the hearts of everyone that she met. Her love of children took her to Window Rock where she spent an enjoyable year. Then, in 1993, she came to South Dakota to teach school. She bonded with the congregation and it became her home. She was married to Richard Heath Tilton on April 9, 2000. We made our home near Iroquois, South Dakota. I thank God for the four and a half short years we happily shared together. Her longing for motherhood was fulfilled as God blessed us with three precious sons. On October 15 she suddenly went into a coma due to a fast growing cancer found in the brain. We earnestly prayed for her recovery, but soon realized God was calling her home. She slipped into eternity never realizing that she was sick. Though our hearts ache for Heath and the boys we have the assurance she has gone to be with her God. Those left to cherish precious memories are her beloved husband, Heath, and her three deeply loved sons, Forrest 3, Seth 2, Zachary 5 months; her parents, Jesse and Henrietta of Ste. Anne, MB; five sisters, Crystal and Rod Dueck of Ste. Anne, MB, Rachel and Darrel Giesbrecht of Apple Hill, ON, Cecile and Jeff Penner of Ste. Anne, MB, Laurel of Mifflinburg, PA, and Mindi of Ste. Anne, MB; one brother Samuel and Joyce of Ste. Anne, MB; Parents-in-law, Richard Irvin and Cathy Tilton of DeRidder, LA; two sisters-in-law, Joni and Jason Nichols of Lake Charles, LA, and Jessica and Glen Ratzlaff of DeRidder, LA; her grandmother, Aganetha Friesen of Steinbach, MB; Heaths grandparents, Charles and Betty Graham of DeRidder, LA; special families, Lonnie and Carolee Penner, and Dalen and Arlene Fast and their families. She was a favorite aunt to her nieces and nephews and a special friend to many. She was preceded in death by 3 grandparents.