Melvin O. Burleson

Melvin Burleson, 88 , Jamestown, ND, died Wednesday, April 20, 2011 at Maple Manor, Rochester, MN .

Melvin O. Burleson was born April 11, 1923 on the family homestead in Lyon Township, 8 miles south of Kensal, ND, the twin son of Earnest and Alvina (Braasch) Burleson. He was raised in Lyon Township and attended the Lyon Township School #1. He then attended Pingree High School, graduating in 1941. He remained at home and farmed and ranched with his parents. On April 14, 1945, he married Lois Petrek at St. John's Parsonage in Kensal, ND. The purchased the J.B. Lonski homestead and continued farming. Melvin served on the Lyon Township School Board and was township treasurer for 20 years. In 1961, he began working for the North Dakota State Hospital in Jamestown, ND as a ward supervisor of the adolescent unit. In 1965, he and Lois discontinued farming and moved to Jamestown. After 6 years at the State Hospital, he transferred to the North Dakota State Highway Department where he worked as an equipment operator. He married Helen Schmuhl in March of 1983. In 1977, he began working for Jamestown College in the maintenance department. He retired in 1987, but continued working part time as a bus driver for the James River Senior Citizen Center.

Melvin was a member of St. James Basilica and the Eagles.

Survivors include his wife; Helen, a daughter, Jolleen (Earnest) Weick, Rochester, MN; a son, Lynn (Rita) Burleson, Bartlesville , OK; 5 grandchildren; 9 great-grandchildren; a sister, Lucille Swanson, Jamestown, ND; 2 stepsons: Darold (Sue) Schmuhl and Dean (Jean) Schmuhl, both of Jamestown, ND; and 7 step-grandchildren and 3 step great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, Marilee; 2 sons: Jeffrey and Joseph; and 3 sisters: Ruby Dorscher, Ruth Hopland and Rose Munro, and a twin brother, Alvin Burleson.

Funeral - 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, April 26, 2011 at The Basilica Of St James, Jamestown, ND

Prayer Service - 7:00 p.m., Monday, April 25, 2011 at Williams-Lisko Funeral Chapel, Jamestown, ND

Visitation - 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Monday, April 25, 2011 at Williams-Lisko Funeral Chapel, Jamestown, ND and 1 hour prior to services at the church on Tuesday .

Interment - St. John's Cemetery, Kensal, ND, later in the spring.

In lieu of flowers - memorials may be directed to St. John's Cemetery, Kensal, ND.