Mervin Meidinger passed away on June 3, 2022, at the age of 85. He was born on February 5, 1937, in Terry, Montana, the eldest of 11 children born to Aaron and Emma Speidel Meidinger. He was raised and attended school in Marsh, Montana. The family moved to Ismay in the early 1950’s. He attended school there until boarding out to attend his Sophomore and Junior years of high school in Glendive, Montana. He attended his senior year at CCHS in Miles City, Montana graduating in 1955. After graduating he worked construction, working on many of the roads in Eastern Montana.
Mervin and Sherran Brewer Witcher were married on July 24, 1965, and he became a dad to Jeff and Donna Witcher. Shawn Kevin joined the family on December 29, 1966. Mervin did custom haying and local harvesting as well as truck driving. He and his brother Leon operated the bar above the Range Riders.
In 1971 Mervin and his brother Jerry headed south to begin custom haying. Mervin liked the Stratford, Texas area and that became his career. The family moved down in 1974 and remained there until the later 1980’s when Sherran’s health began to fail. The family lived in Kinsey for a while, later moving into Miles City. Sherran passed in 1993. Mervin and Shawn continued living in Miles City during the winter, heading south at harvest time.
While living in Texas vacations were taken during the off season. On one of these vacations Mervin had the opportunity to go deep sea fishing. Mervin liked to travel and go to different places and took advantage of these vacation times.
Mervin and Dorothy Wegner Pelvit were married on February 14, 1998. He continued harvesting during the summer and drove taxi in the winter.
In 2006 they quit following the harvest cycle around Stratford. Mervin would go for harvest but came home when the harvest was complete, sometimes going back in the fall. Mervin and Dorothy enjoyed going to the dances and functions at the Drop In Center. He was an active RSVP volunteer until 2021 working wrestling and basketball tournaments and wherever he was needed. Mervin enjoyed fishing, four-wheeling with friends, family gatherings, coffee times and visiting.
Mervin is survived by his wife Dorothy of 24 years, son Jeff (Anna) Witcher, daughter Donna (Aubrey) Spear, son Shawn (Audra) Meidinger; brothers Jerry, Kenny (Diane), Leroy (Lori), Clinton (Beva); sisters Josephine Meidinger, Cheryl Klang; brothers-in-law John and Dick Brewer; Dorothy’s sons Brian (Maggi) Dice, Darrell and Jason (Alysia) Pelvit. Mervin is also survived by 14 grandchildren, 42 great grandchildren as well as nieces, nephews and cousins.
Mervin was preceded in death by his parents Aaron and Emma; sister and brother-in-law Daphine and Lyle Fiechtner, sister Sharon Prince, sister and brother-in-law Judy and Bud Walker, and brother Leon.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to a charity of your choice in honor of Mervin.
A funeral service will be held on Friday, June 10, 2022, at 2:30 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church in Miles City. Interment will follow at the Custer County Cemetery. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting: www.stevensonandsons.com.
Trish says
Dorthy, We are sorry to hear of Mervs passing. He meant alot to all of us. Call if you EVER need anything,
we love you,
The Florida Yeagers
Doug Benge says
Sending condolences to Dorthy and all family. Mervin and others in the family were long time clients, and I very much appreciated his loyalty and confidence. Best wishes to all.
Pat Morris Blumhorst says
Love you Sis , and sympathy to all family members, both his and hers. Merv really was a wonderful friend to me!
Marcy Parks says
Dorothy and family, I am so sorry to hear about Mr. Meidinger! My heart goes out to you. You are all in my thoughts and prayers.
Carolyn E Hays says
My heart is so sad! Merv was such a sweetheart and I’m sure he had a lot to do with us knot headed kids not getting into any really bad trouble when we were young. He was like a combination older brother/hip dad to all of us. May you keep your memories of him in your heart and may he rest in peace. Cooky
En, ESTHER & TERY NELSON says
Dorothy and Family ; Our prayers are with you all AND GOD BLESS AND COMFORT EACH OF YOU.
Andrea Bohlman says
Dorothy and family you are in our thoughts and prayers. So sorry for your loss I just seen the both of you two days ago. We are thinking about you and if you need anything please reach out to us.
Erv and Andrea Bohlman
Kyle & Gail Shaw says
Dorothy and Family, So sorry to read about Mervin. He was always fun to talk with and I enjoyed him at the dances. He always had a smile. He will be missed.
Deb & Bob Hagemeister says
Shawn and family. So sorry to hear about Mervin. Loved visiting with him over the many years. He was so proud of you! He and Don will continue their long-standing friendship with many laughs! Take care. Deb and Bob and families
Rick Newby says
RIP my friend
Garth Sleight says
I just saw Merv the other day at Wal-Mart, so this comes as a heartbreaking shock to me. I enjoyed getting to know Merv when Jeff and his family lived in Miles City during the early 90s. After they left Miles City in 1994, any time I asked Merv about Jeff and his family, I could always see his fatherly pride as he gave me updates. My sincere condolences to the many, many, many Meidingers and friends who are grieving the passing of this great man.
mary curtiss says
Dorothy You and your families are in my thoughts. So sorry for your loss.
Linda and Timothy Patrick says
Dorothy, we are sorry for your loss. Please let us know if we can help in any way. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and the family.
Dineen Meidinger-Mueller says
We were informed via phone call on Saturday. We are so sorry for your loss, please know that our thoughts and prayers are with you and your families. There are no words to adequately express the depth of empathy and understanding in ones loss. It saddens us all. The Norman Mdiendinger bunch, from Wyoming and Colorado.
Burch and Linda Palmer says
Sure loved Merv. Condolences to all the family. Burch and Linda
Raylynn Sleight says
Merv was such a kind man! Sending my condolences to those who loved him. May his memory forever be a blessing.
Emma J Wegner says
Sending Love and Prayers for you. We are so sorry to hear about Merv! Love and Hugs, Bruce and Emma
Dolores Meidinger Willson says
I was shocked to see and hear of Mervin’s passing. Dorothy and all the family, please accept my condolences and remember all the good times you have had in the past. I always enjoyed seeing Mervin around town and the privilege to call him “cuz”. RIP
DeEtra Edwards Reiland says
My sincere condolences to all the Meidingers. I have very fond memories of Mervin from childhood through the years. He was always happy go lucky and smiling. He loved a good prank, was so sweet and always there for dinner. I loved that man and will truly miss him, even though I’ve always lived far away….he was so special. In our family he was always so respectful to all the elders. Again, deepest sympathy to Dorothy and his son.
Pete and June Minow says
Dorothy, we are so sorry for the loss of Mervin. He always had a smile for everyone. May God bless and comfort you in the days ahead
Kim Smarsh says
Dorothy, my sincere sympathy to you and your family. Mervyn was always an ardent supporter of Relay For Life.
Kay Davis Berdahl says
Dorothy,
Sorry for your loss of Mervin. Thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.
Sheila Rae Welch says
Dorothy, Shawn, Jeff, Donna and your families. To the Meidinger family. I was shocked and saddened to hear of Uncle Mervin’s passing. He was a hardworker and he loved his family. I was lucky to have worked for Mervin a summer on the “Harvest Crew” right after I graduated from High School (1973). He helped me become a good “truck driver”! He worked us hard and we had fun. It was nice to eat our evening meals together. Mervin & Sherran, Jeff, Donna and Shawn. They are the “best cousins”!! I will cherish our happy memories!!
Curtis and June Fillafer says
Goodbye Mervin longtime friend. To all of the Meidinger family, you are in my thoughts and prayers during the difficult times ahead. Mervin was a good friend and a friend to everyone. He will be missed in the community. Mervin God Bless you in heaven. I’m so sorry to see you leave us.
Denise and Jay Harvey says
Our thoughts and prayers are with you all! May you be blessed with comfort and cherished memories.
LaVerne Jones Hebner says
I’m so sorry to hear of Mervin’s death. Another member of the CCHS class of 1955 has left us. I remember Mervin as being a friendly, polite guy and well liked. If I’m not mistaken, we both worked at Reynold’s one summer. My sympathy goes to his family. We’ll have a great class reunion when we all gather together again. What a day of rejoicing that will be.
Irvin & Carol Naasz says
Dear Meidinger family, we were so sorry to hear of the passing of Mervin. We are unable to come to the funeral. Please accept our condolences and hugs!! We were happy to be able to see and visit with Mervin several weeks ago in Billings
Melanie Rees says
Dorthy, Shawn &Audra, Jeff & Donna and family’s, I am deeply sadden to hear of the passing of Uncle Mervin. My thoughts and prayers are with you all. It is a comfort to think back on all the fun memories from our childhood and the fun we had. Mervin was always smiling and so excited to take us on a tour of whatever area we happened to meet up with them at. Many memories of times in Miles City and Stratford. Wish I would have been able to get up and visit with you more in recent years. I am sure Mervin is having a great reunion with so many loved ones on the other side. RIP Uncle Mervin!
Alice Janssen says
So sorry to hear about Mervin’s death. I know you will all miss him very much!
Alice Janssen
Audrey Haumschild says
RIP my fishing buddy. You and the guys tough me how to fish in the river . Every time I run into yous we would sit there and fish and I love listening to all the fishing stories. The last few years I would run into you and you’d say you haven’t gone out for a while. I will miss saying hi and your big hugs. Maybe we will meet again on the rocks by a river. With are fishing poles 🎣 . Biggest Hugs and thanks for the teaching.
Elmer and A is Spidel says
To all the Meidinger family , it is sad to hear of Merves passing I was happy to see him at our aunts funeral.
I pray that God will comfort you in this time. We will not be able to make it, but will have you on our hearts.
Lavonne Schroeder says
Dorothy, I am so sorry to hear of Mervin’s passing. Love and hugs to you dear lady.
Mike & Patsy Davis says
Dorothy & Family,
So sorry to hear of Merv’s passing, sending our sincere condolences to all of you and Mervin’s family.
Donnie Rooney says
Dorothy & family so sorry for your loss.May he R.I.P
Christine Whitlock Keltner says
Sadden to read of Merv’s passing. He was a favorite of Chris and I——we did have some good times.
ann weaver says
Dorothy
I know where your heart is at this time, Roger passed Feb 1 of this year. It’s the toughest thing I have ever gone through but everyone says I’m strong and I can do it. We have no other choice but to move forward and let God help you with this new journey you are facing. May God Bless