Melvin Pigman

Melvin Lewis Fat Pigman, age 92, Round Lake, MN, formerly of the Raymond community, died on Wednesday afternoon in the Good Samaritan Nursing Home in Jackson, MN. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, January 17, 2004 at 10:30 AM in the Grace Lutheran Church near Worthington, MN. Burial will be at 5:00 PM in the Prairie Valley Cemetery at Raymond, SD. Dr. Paul Nielson will officiate. Eunice Baumgard will be the organist with Jackie Fritz - granddaughter, singing. A great-granddaughter, Theresa Fritz will sing at the cemetery. Following the interment, everyone is invited to a supper at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Clark, SD. Casketbearers will be grandsons with the caregivers from the Good Samaritan Center in Jackson, MN being honorary casketbearers. Visitation will be held 1 hour prior to services at the Church near Worthington, MN. He was born on September 21, 1911 in Ewington Township, Jackson County, MN, the son of Walter and Martha (Hoffmeister) Pigman. He attended the Ewington Consolidated School beginning in 1918, the first year the school opened. Following his education he remained on the family farm. Melvin met his wife, Grace McFarlane from Bloomfield, NE, when he was hauling oats to Nebraska in the 1930s. The couple was united in marriage on March 14, 1938 in Yankton, SD. He was a farmer, trucker and a cattle and horse dealer, being known especially for good quality cattle and horses. He was gifted at working with horses and also with children. He helped in founding the Spafford Thunder Riders Saddle Club and was especially proud of the Thunder Riders Flag Drill Team. Melvin was also well know in the Iowa-Minnesota Chuck wagon Racing Association being known for his competitive but happy nature. His nickname was The Jolly Green Giant. The couple moved to Raymond, SD in 1971 and lived there until 1998 when they returned to Ewington Township, Jackson County, MN. He became a resident of The Lighthouse Alzheimers United at the Jackson Good Samaritan Center in December of 1999. He was a member of the St. Paul Lutheran Church at Clark and also the Grace Lutheran Church near Worthington, MN. He was baptized in the Grace Lutheran Church on March 22, 1964. Grateful for having shared in his life is his wife Grace, daughters, Gwenlyn Fleace and husband Gerald all of Round Lake, MN, Arlys Schuett and husband Gary of Lakefield, MN and Marjorie Meyer and husband Robert of Raymond, 11 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren and a brother, Lloyd Pigman of Chico, CA. Preceding him in death were his parents, 6 brothers and 2 sisters. Visitation will be held 1 hour prior to services at the Church near Worthington, MN.