Melvin Dale Parlet, 89, of Rapid City, South Dakota, passed away June 20, 2011, surrounded by the love of his family and friends at the Rapid City Regional Hospital-Hospice of the Hills. He was born on January 5, 1922 in Verdel, Nebraska, the son of the late Orvil and Bena Parlet, and was one of 12 children. Melvin was just a year old when his family moved to a farm east of Winner, South Dakota and subsequent moves included a farm near Ideal and another northeast of Witten, also in South Dakota. While attending Witten High School, Melvin played both the piano and drums for the Parlet Orchestra, a family group that played for many barn dances around Tripp County. He later worked for the Socony Vacuum Oil Company in Winner. He finished his education in the Service like so many did at that time, entering the military on December 16, 1942 at Ft. Crook, Nebraska and later discharged at Camp Beale, California on February 18, 1946. Melvin was drafted into the Army Air Corps and was later selected to be a member of the Third Ferrying Group of the Air Transport Command. After extensive schooling, he was assigned as an aerial (flight) engineer for a select group of personnel associated with the C-47, also known as the DC-3. The group was charged with transporting veterans from one hospital to another and Melvin found great honor in and was extremely grateful for his task in the military. He loved flying and frequently reminded others that had he received a penny for every mile he spent in the sky, he would be a millionaire! Upon returning home in 1946, Melvin joined the Winner Advocate as a printer and linotype operator, and in 1947, he met and married Katherine Louise Kramer. Together, they had four children eldest son Robert, second son Scott, daughter Teresa, and youngest son Stephen. In 1950, the family moved to Mitchell, South Dakota and Melvin worked for the Daily Mitchell Republic for a brief time before moving back to Winner in 1952. He returned to the Winner Advocate and became the shop foreman. While in Winner, he was also a manager for the American Legion Hall for many years and an agent for the Omaha World Herald and Sioux Falls Argus Leader newspapers. In June of 1966, Melvin and Katherine sold their home in Winner and moved to Rapid City, South Dakota, where Melvin was employed at the Rapid City Journal. There, he was a linotype operator until the newspaper changed over to computers and he then became a computer monitor and copy coordinator. After 22 years of service, Melvin retired from the Journal in 1988 and then held several part-time jobs, including driving periodically to Sturgis and Hot Springs to assist them in publishing their weekly papers, serving as an agent for Farmers Insurance Group, and working as a projectionist for Commonwealth Theaters, and eventually, throughout Rapid City. Melvin was a parishioner at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church and served as an usher and Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion for many years. He also served on the Cathedral Parish Council for two terms, as well as two terms on the Perpetual Help School Board. Melvin was a member of the American Legion and both a Worthy Knight and trustee for the Fourth Degree of the Knights of Columbus Council 1489, where he served multiple terms as church chairman and two terms as state publicity chairman. He also served two terms on the Columbian Club and was president for one year. After cancer surgery in 1980, Melvin joined the United Ostomy Association and from 1989 to 2011, he served as president, secretary, and treasurer. When his wife died in 1983, he decided that God gives courage to carry sorrow and began volunteering at Regional Hospital, the Journey Museum, and for the Knights of Columbus. He was frequently heard saying, Kindness is hard to give away because it just keeps coming back. Melvin was deeply involved in his community and wrote many letters to the editor, frequently receiving letters from some who were quite upset with him; but he never minded those things, for he said, That is just life. He is survived by his eldest son and daughter-in-law, retired Captain Robert and Peggy Parlet of Orange Park, Florida; daughter, Teresa Terri Peterson of Rapid City, South Dakota; youngest son, Reverend Stephen Parlet of Buena Vista, Colorado; brother and sister-in-law, Elmer and Dorothy Parlet of Winner, South Dakota; five grandchildren and their spouses; nine great-grandchildren; and countless other close family and friends. Melvin was preceded in death by his wife, Katherine; his second son, Scott; his son-in-law, Gary Peterson; and ten siblings. There will be a wake at the Cathedral at 7:30 PM on Thursday, June 23, 2011. His funeral is scheduled for 10:00 AM on Friday, June 24, 2011 at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help with Rev. Stephan Parlet and Rev. Michel Mulloy as celebrants and he will be buried with his wife at the Black Hills National Cemetery following Mass with Military Honors by the Rushmore VFW Post 1273 and the South Dakota National Guard. He was once noted as saying, What a beautiful place to be buried and in the middle of the Black Hills. Memorial has been established to the Knights of Columbus.