Melvin D. Lake, 70, of Flandreau, died at his home under hospice care on Sunday, Feb. 18, 2018.  

Funeral services are at 10 a.m. on Wednesday at Eastman Hall in Flandreau. Burial is in Union Cemetery in Flandreau. Visitation begins at 5 p.m. Tuesday at Eastman Hall with a wake service beginning at 7 p.m.  

Melvin was born in Yankton on Jan. 15, 1948, to Melvin C. and Ione (Redwing) Lake. The family moved to Arizona before returning to Wilmot, where Melvin received his education. 

He entered the United States Army, serving from Jan. 26, 1968 to Jan. 25, 1974, during the Vietnam War where he earned a Purple Heart and Bronze Star. 

After being honorably discharged, Melvin returned to South Dakota and attended barber school in Sioux Falls. He married Janice Blue and Melvin worked as a barber in Watertown. 

He moved to Sisseton and worked as a tribal officer for the Sisseton Wahpeton Sioux Tribe. 

He married Selva St. John on July 21, 1978, in Watertown and they moved to Flandreau in June of 1980. Melvin worked as a custodian at the Flandreau Indian School for many years until working as a landscaper in Sioux Falls until his retirement in 2011.

Melvin is survived by his wife, Selva; seven children, Richard Lake of Flandreau, Breon (Dionne) Lake of Sisseton, Gwen (Loren) Archambeau of Sioux Falls, Tia Lake of Echo Lake,  Amber (Augustine) Diaz, Rio Lake (Darren Hard Heart), all of Flandreau; son-in-law, Rowden Schipper, Flandreau; 18 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; four brothers, Tim (Kathy) Lake of Watertown, Donald Lake of Denver, Gerald Lake, Fargo, North Dakota, and Lloyd (Laurie) Peniska of Wilmot. 

He was preceded in death by a son, Roy Lake; four brothers, Richard, Harold “Buster”, Ronnie, an infant brother, Earl and a sister, Aldene. 

For online condolences, visit www.skrochfc.com.