Melvin D. Konkel passed from this world at the age of 86 on July 6, 2022, in Amarillo, Texas.  Melvin lived at the family home in Vilas, Colorado until the last 3 weeks of his life, he then lived with his daughter Shannon in Amarillo.

Melvin was born on May 8, 1936, southeast of Walsh, Colorado, to Elden and Faye (Banks) Konkel.  He was delivered by his ten-year-old brother Keith, due to the doctor and Eldon being stuck in a rainstorm.  Melvin was the 5 ^th of 6 children: Keith, Earl, Veta Faye, Rita Raye and Virginia.

Melvin attended Vilas School and graduated in 1954.   Dad loved baseball and was a catcher during his playing years.  He told many stories of baseball games and many included Harold Brooks who was a pitcher and close friends.  On mom and dad's 40 ^th anniversary Melvin and Harold went out in the yard and threw the baseball back and forth for old times' sake.

Dad's love of farming started on the family farm south of Vilas. He told many stories of being on wheat harvest with Luther Lock in Wyoming and Montana.  He later did custom harvesting with his brother Earl and later on his own, where he made lifelong friends.

Melvin married Kay Francis Hey on July 17, 1958, his high school sweetheart.  To this happy union three children were born, Shannon Isabel, Zaylan Bruce and Travis Thayne.

Melvin professed his faith in the Lord and was later baptized in Hotchkiss, Colorado.

Melvin was drafted into the Army in 1958, where he loaded up his young wife and moved her to Fort Hood, Texas for basic training.  Daughter Shannon was born at Fort Hood Army Hospital.   Melvin was shipped to Korea in 1959, shortly after arriving he was transferred to Division Headquarters to work in the motor pool under a Major Gist, a Montana farm boy.  After a few months there he was given a field rank of corporal and became the Major's personal driver.

Melvin returned from Korea in 1960 to his small family and restarted his custom harvest business.  Son Zaylan was born in 1961 in Springfield, CO.

For a time, Melvin worked at the co-op elevator in Walsh, Colorado. Upon leaving there Melvin and Kay started Ray-Mels mobile fertilizer and later changing the name to Growers Supply where they sold fertilizer seed and chemicals in Vilas, Colorado.

Son Travis was born on their wedding anniversary, July 17, 1969, in Lamar, Colorado.  What an anniversary present.

The Farming bug hit again, and they started buying land to farm and raise hogs.  The Halloween blizzard of 1979 hit and caused a terrible loss of crops and hogs.

Never down for long Melvin and Kay began smashing and baling aluminum pipe for several years until Kay started Country Lollipops, with Melvin joining the business a year later.  Through this business they traveled the country together attending marketing shows and making lifelong friends.

Melvin had a love of the outdoors and enjoyed hunting, fishing and camping, which he passed on to his kids, grandkids and great grandkids.

Melvin is survived by daughter Shannon and husband David Johns of Amarillo, Texas; Zaylan and wife Caroline of Vilas, Colorado and son Travis of Springfield.  He is survived by 13 grandchildren, 19 great grandchildren. Also survived by sister Virginia and husband Rolla Ellsworth of Boise City, Oklahoma and numerous nieces and nephews.

Melvin was preceded in death by his wife Kay Konkel, parents Eldon and Faye Konkel, brother Keith and wife Enid Konkel, brother Earl and wife Joyce Konkel, sister Rita Raye Konkel, sister Vita Faye and husband Don Lock and son in law Gary Shaw.

Trying to cram such a big full life into this is impossible and so much is left out, but to his kids he was simply Dad and to his grandkids he was Dedaw.  We do and will miss you so much.