John Mellor, age 94, passed away September 18, 2015, at the Powder River Manor Nursing Home in Broadus, Mt.
John Howard Mellor was born March 11, 1921 to Howard and Carrie Mellor on the old 101 cattle ranch on the Belle Fourche River, a few miles north of Moorcroft, Wyoming and within sight of the Devils Tower. At a few weeks of age, he and the family moved to Montana, where John always would call home. John grew up in the Ridge area. The times being what they were, he never went to high school, instead beginning at a young age working for different ranchers in the area. His experiences and life lessons during those years carried him well through life. His stories of trailing livestock to Belle Fourche, herding sheep and living in a sheep wagon, and all the people he met along the way were always fun to listen to.
In 1941 John went to work for Tom Woolston on his ranch. This is where he met his future bride, Olive. They were married April 10, 1943 at the first Baptist church in Broadus, Mt. Two days after they married, John boarded the train in Baker, Mt., heading for the west coast and shipping out to the Pacific Theatre of War. In the Navy he spent the war years serving on a PT boat in the Philippines. When John returned from the war, he and Olive started working on various ranches, hoping to buy their own one day. A dream that never came to fruition, something they both regretted. In 1956 John and Olive moved to Broadus. John drove truck for AJ Bone for a number of years, helping haul all the cement used for the runways at Glasgow Airbase. Olive continued teaching area country schools and purchasing the Cashway Truck Stop restaurant. In 1961 they bought the IGA grocery store. Their store was located in two different locations before they built the building where the present IGA store is located. In 1988 John and Olive retired and sold their business.
John and Olive were always very community minded. John was a City Councilman from 1963-1967, in 1967 he was elected Mayor of Broadus. John was a Mason, member of VFW, and a member of Rolling Hills Golf Course. John loved the years he spent golfing. After retiring from the store business, he was groundskeeper at the golf course, loving every bit of it. John also enjoyed his time spent with special friend, John Smith. Whether going flying in John’s airplane, driving tractor during haying, going with John to the Belle Fourche Livestock Yards, or having coffee and visiting around John and Lana’s kitchen table. John was a Patriot who loved his country immensely. In 2009 he was very honored to go on the Honor Flight to Washington DC, visiting the WWII Memorial. In 2011, John was asked to be a speaker on behalf of WWII Veterans at the retirement part for Peter Henry, Commander in Chief at Ft. Meade VA in Sturgis, SD. Reading the Bible became a daily routine. His love for the lord only intensified with age. He’d been ready to go home to Heaven for some time, but wanted to stay on earth as long as he could for Olive. After being told of her passing, John knew he needed to go too, to be with her in eternity!
John was preceded in death by his wife, Olive, a son, Jay, his parents, 1 brother and 3 sisters.
Survivors include, daughter, Carol (Randy) Hanrahan, son, David (Debbie) Mellor, daughter-in-law, Judy, brother-in-law, Larry (Marilyn) Woolston, sister-in-law, Alice Woolston, sisters, Jesse Malcolm and Esther Boyles, 8 grandchildren, 6 great grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held on October 6, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. at Faith Bible Church in Broadus, MT. Interment will follow in the Valley View Cemetery. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.stevensonandsons.com. Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home of Broadus is assisting the family in these arrangements.
Julie Long says
Prayers to the Mellor family! Olive and John really liked the Wednesday piano music that I play at the Manor. In particular, John’s favorite was “You are My Sunshine”. He said that when he served in the war in the South Pacific, the “native” children would meet them on the shores of the beaches and sing that song. They had been taught that song by missionaries. I’ll always remember John’s story behind that song every time I play it.
Pam & Dave Nisley says
Praying for all of you! We have many memories of both John and Olive š Mostly during their time with the IGA. John was helping sack my groceries and saw blue paint on my hands – ” Is that sheep paint” ? he asked …….from then on we had a bond, of course sheep was a big part of his life for many years. And Olive was such a cook!! I can still taste her fudge she would make at Christmas, along with many other treats. God bless you all!
Bonnie Bogner Sprague says
Sending my condolences to you Carol and your whole family in the great loss of both of your parents! They were both so involved in the community. May the angels fly with them now in their journey in the spirit world.
Skin and Betty Collins says
Prayers and hugs sent to you Carol and the family of John and Olive. They are both together in heaven where they is no more suffering. Both of them were so community involved. They will be missed by so many. God Bless all of the Mellor family at this time. RIP in Peace John and Olive.
Wayne & Anita Wetherelt says
Our thoughts & prayers to all of you. I visited both many times at the Manor, & so many memories of then during the IGA days. Two of our daughters work for them & it was always a joy to hear their stories too. So sorry for all of you.
Bub and Carlene Gaskill says
Our community has lost a dedicated member, our country has lost a patriot, and our tea party has lost a faithful member, Thanks for everything John, RIP.
Elsa, Francis Hayes says
So sorry about Olive & John. John spent his early childhood here at Ridge . He would tell me a lot of history of around Ridge that happend befor I could remember. Johns dad worked for my dad & grandad & John would tell story’s of fallowing them around the ranch & the Hayes Store. Many good times , many good memories.
Marie Scoville says
John and Olive leave a big hole in the community. I have known John for as long as I have known anyone. My mother taught at the Ridge school and John was one of her pupils. The welfare of his customers at the grocery store was top priority with him, and I know he supported community fund raisers, in a helpful way, with whatever was needed in the grocery line. He would always allow us to return unused supplies, which was something he wouldn’t have needed to do. Whenever I would visit with him at the nursing home he was cheerful, upbeat, and grateful for his care there. I will miss them.
Rita Hanley says
I had the honor of meeting John in Broadus one day. What a delightful, kind man and so very much in love with his Olive. Thoughts and prayers to their family. My life is better for having him cross my life’s path and sharing their love story! God Bless.
Troy & Debbie Harrington says
John & Olive were very special to our family. They loved our girls and I know they enjoyed seeing them when we would visit at their house and then the nursing home. We referred to him as Grampa John as he always made them feel special and appreciated. Olive was the best pray warrior we knew in Broadus and will miss her and her prayers. We only knew them the later part of their lives but they were very special and so glad that they were able to enter heaven close together, which is how they would have wanted it. May God give you comfort and peace.
Ern,Esther and Terry Nelson says
Sending our sympathy in the passing of a wonderful couple . We to remember them from the IGA store and so joyed our visits . Gods Blessing to all the family .
ArLynn and Walter Archer says
Thanks to two special people, John and Olive. May they rest in peace together. They hired so many local people at their IGA. I have two sons (Collin and Quinn) that benefitted from their generosity. John always enjoyed seeing them come back for a visit.
Quinn Borla says
My thoughts and prayers to the Mellor family. Many memories of John running the butcher shop with an iron fist and Olive running the front office with an eagle eye. John gave a lot advice about life and as a kid, I probably laughed a lot of it off, but now I can say how right he was. Olive was so generous to cook and provide delicious lunches on Sunday for those of us who worked at the IGA. She was mostly quiet while at work, but when she spoke, you listened! Iām thankful for the opportunities they gave me and knowing such wonderful people. Rest in Peace!
Casey Babb says
I will always remember Johns face when i sang at church he always had something nice to say!!
Bob Brekke says
Carol, my sympathies go out to you and your family. It’s hard to lose both parents at the same time. They are now both in heavan resting in peace arm in arm.
Teresa Geib Bacon says
Carol, Mom, (Elaine Geib) and i send our prayers and condolences to you and the family. Mom talked about all the yrs she shopped at the store, and how much she thought of the Mellor Family. May the Lord Bless You and Keep you all, Teresa and Elaine
Carolyn Traub says
So sorry for your loss. I had the pleasure of knowing John and Olive for most of my life. Both were great people and will deeply be missed. Hugs and Prayers to the family!!!
Jason Hanrahan says
Grandpa, I will never forget you. You are an example of how one should love and live. May you forever be with grandma, may you never feel the shackles of mortality, may you be at peace, and may you always look over us. I love you grandpa.
vivian and ben deleo says
A goodbye to some very special people. The Williams. Woolston. Mellor families stayed pretty close throughout many years. I loved the stories my mother would tell about her and Olive and the fun they had and all the fun they had in their sheepherding days. They will be missed. Please know we care .
Janet Rice says
My prayers to all John and Olives family. Will miss visiting them at the nursing home. I started working for them when they were at the store where carquest is now. I mainly worked in the meat dept. and the produce. Moved with them to the IGA store where it is now. They were like family to me. I always tried to take them some homemade candy and fruit cake at Christmas. Olive especially liked the divinity. Loved listening to the many stories that they would tell about early life. They will be missed. RIP dear friends.
Jill Schumacher Lewis says
So glad to say I learned so much working with Jon & Olive at the IGA. They were lovely people and were such a great asset to the Broadus community. God bless all of you and just know how much they were loved.
Rhonda Traub says
So very sorry for your loss, prayers to all of you, John was a very special man, loved his happy go lucky personality. He and Olive will be greatly missed!! Hugs!!
Jim & Faye Wagner says
Our thoughts and prayers are with the Mellor family. They were great people and together again. They will be missed.
Wanda Hughes says
I always admired John and Olive. They were my employers and friends. The community benefited from the clean, well stocked grocery store they owned and ran. They had great business sense and always gave back to the community. I am so sorry, David and Carol, that you lost your parents so close together. Take comfort in knowing they are together with the Lord.
tom and sally Kelly says
SO very sorry