Melvin Richard Dick Puffer, age 81, of rural Hitchcock, died Saturday, June 14, 2008 at the Mayo Clinic Hospital at Phoenix, Arizona. His funeral service will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, June 20, 2008 at the First United Methodist Church. Burial will be at Altoona Cemetery, Hitchcock with Military Rites by the Raymond-Hart American Legion Post #84. Visitation will be Thursday from 1 to 8 p.m. at the Welter Funeral Home with the family present from 6 to 8 p.m. or one hour prior to the service at the church Friday morning. Melvin Richard Puffer was born on October 10, 1926 to Benjamin and Jennie (Newman) Puffer at Hitchcock, South Dakota. He attended Hitchcock schools and two years of agricultural school at South Dakota State University in Brookings, graduating in 1944. He entered the United States Army and served with occupation forces in Japan at Sagamo prison in Tokyo, Japan. He received an honorable discharge in 1946. On September 15, 1947, Dick married Frances LeGrand at the First United Methodist Church in Huron. He spent his entire life on the same farm, where he was born. He was an active member of Raymond-Hart American Legion Post #84 of Hitchcock, served 12 years on the Hitchcock school board, and several years on the Altoona township board. He was a member of the Hitchcock United Methodist Church for many years and was currently a member of the First United Methodist Church in Huron. He is survived by his wife of Hitchcock; one son Randy (Debra) Puffer of Hitchcock; three daughters, Kay Hendricks of Winslow, Arizona, Kathy (Mahlon) Dirks of Mead, Washington, and Ruth (Bryan) Hulsebus of Sioux Falls; nine grandchildren, Linda Johnson, Michael Hendricks, Olivia Puffer, Thomas Puffer, Adelle Puffer, Lisa Eastham, Matt Dirks, Ashley Hulsebus, and Brandyn Hulsebus; and five great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Wayne and Wendell Puffer.