The funeral service for Melvina "Mell" Schilling, 83, of Aberdeen will be 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2012, at Our Savior Lutheran Church, with the Rev. Craig Grams officiating. Burial will follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens, Aberdeen. Mell died Friday, Nov. 16, 2012, at Avera Mother Joseph Manor, Aberdeen.
Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. Spitzer-Miller Funeral Home, 1111 S. Main St., Aberdeen, is in charge of arrangements.
Melvina D. Ochsner was born on Nov. 21, 1928, to John and Marie (Pfeifer) Ochsner in Zeeland, N.D. She grew up on a farm near Zeeland and graduated from Zeeland High School in 1946. Melvina taught rural schools in Herreid and Artas. She came to Aberdeen in 1950 and was employed at Woodward Pharmacy, Dr. C. B. Kelly, DDS, Pleinis Jewelry and the state of South Dakota.
Melvina married Ervin Schilling on April 10, 1954, in Aberdeen.
Melvina was a member of Our Savior Lutheran Church, where she was active in LWML, Altar Circle and choir. She was a member of the VFW Auxiliary and volunteered at the Avera St. Luke's Hospital gift shop. She enjoyed walking, reading and traveling. Her greatest joy came from spending time with her family and friends.
Grateful for having shared Melvina's life are her husband, Ervin Schilling, Aberdeen; two sons, David (Audrey) Schilling of Chandler, Ariz., and Kent (Kathie) Schilling, Rochester, Minn.; two grandchildren, Brandon (Amy) Schilling, and Cherie Schilling; her foster brother, William (Carol) Pfeifer; her foster sister, Judy Pfeifer; and five great-grandchildren.
Melvina was preceded in death by her son, Jim Schilling.
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