Melvin, beloved father, grandfather and great-grandfather, was called home peacefully to be with his Lord and Savior on April 22, 2015. He was surrounded by his family who loved him dearly.

Melvin was born Dec. 30, 1927, to Alfred and Lillian Hilderbrand, in Harrington, Wash., and spent his youth in the Creston and Keller area. He lived in Wenatchee, Mallot, Okanagan, Omak, and Republic (40 years), and moved to Hayden, Idaho, in 2011 to be close to his children and grandchildren where he was able to make many memories.

Throughout his lifetime he owned and operated several small businesses; worked several years in construction and a foundry in Seattle. He was an avid outdoorsman, gun enthusiast, stock car racer, horseman (he owned and raced horses from the 1960s through the 80s) and loved fishing.

Melvin was preceded in death by his parents, Alfred and Lillian Hilderbrand; brother Alfred (Junior) Hilderbrand; and granddaughter, Tiffany Diane Goebel. He is survived by his children: Daughters Diane (Dale) Goebel and Vicky (Gary) Hill, and sons Melvin Gene (Janet) Hansen and Galen (Kathie) Hansen; 14 grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren; brother Clair Hilderbrand; and former spouses Jeanne Hansen and Judy Browning. The surviving grandchildren include: Brittany (Jordan) Karst; AJ Mills; Megan Mills; Austin and Taylor Hill; Dustin Goebel; Jason Hansen; Micah (Alicia) Hansen; Kailie (Tyler) Denham; Willie Hansen; Dani Rose (Cody) Welch; Taylor Hansen; Amy (Brett) Woodward; and Jared (Donna) Hansen.

We would like to thank the Life Care Center in Post Falls for their kind and loving care and for their assistance to the family.

The family would like to invite friends and family to a memorial at 3 p.m. on Sunday, May 3, at the Hayden City Park. Mel wanted all to know he has only "gone fishing."

You may visit Melvin's online memorial and sign his guestbook at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.