With family by his side, Melvin Edward Schwede, 69, beloved husband, father, son, brother, grandfather and friend passed away of cancer Thursday, March 10, 2005, at Brendan House in Kalispell, Mont.

Mel, the eldest son of Floyd and Valda (Hansen) Schwede, was born on Sept. 9, 1935, in Hartland, N.D., and graduated from nearby Berthold High School in 1953. Following graduation, Mel held several farming and other jobs, and in 1955 he started a 45-year career with Great Northern Railroad (currently known as Burlington Northern Santa Fe). Additionally, Mel served as a radar specialist in the U.S. Army from 1958-1960.

In 1972, while working in Essex, Mel met Marge (Kosse), a railroad operator at the depot. The couple married July 21, 1973, at St. Richard's Catholic Church in Columbia Falls. Three beautiful daughters followed. In 1983, the family moved to West Glacier, where Mel held the position of CTC signal maintainer until retirement in 2000.

An avid fisherman, Mel enjoyed fishing trips with good friends and family. He also loved keeping track of his many sports teams. If he couldn't find a game to watch, his other passions were watching westerns and collecting genealogical information.

Mel was preceded in death by his father, Floyd; his aunt, Lulu Sloan; two uncles, Raymond and DeForest; one brother-in-law, Gary Deaver; and two nephews, Randy Deaver and Ben Kosse.

He is survived by his wife, Marge, of West Glacier; his mother, Valda Schwede of Minot, N.D.; three daughters, Shelley Torgersen and Carie Schwede, both of Spokane, Wash., and Jennifer and her husband Eric Paull of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho; his sister, Judy Deaver, and his brother, Gerald Schwede, both of Berthold, N.D.; four grandchildren, Tresa and Devin Torgersen and Keera and Kali Paull; and 13 nieces and nephews.

A rosary and wake will be held at 7 p.m. today, at St. Richard's Catholic Church in Columbia Falls.

A funeral Mass of the Resurrection will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, March 15, at St. Richard's Catholic Church in Columbia Falls, the Rev. Joe Pat Moran officiating. Burial will follow at St. Richard's Catholic Cemetery in Columbia Falls. Memorials may be made to Brendan House in Kalispell.

Columbia Mortuary in Columbia Falls is in charge of the arrangements.