Edith Carol “Fuller” Meland, age 98

Edith Carol “Fuller” Meland

Edith Carol “Fuller” Meland was born on December 25, 1919, on a farm south of Dupree, South Dakota to George and Lillian “Bulleous” Fuller. Edith was the youngest of five children. She joined her three brothers: Leslie “Tuffy”, twins: Hobert and Harlow; and one sister, Bessie. The family lived in Red Elm, SD, where Edith’s father worked for the railroad.
 
Edith attended elementary school in Red Elm, then transferred to Dupree, where she lived in a dormitory, while she attended junior high and high school. Edith quit school during her sophomore year and joined the workforce. She was very proud when she completed her high school requirements and earned a G.E.D. at the age of sixty-five. Edith was very “self-educated” as she read everything that she could get her hands on including books, magazines and all of the area newspapers.
 
On December 26, 1939, Edith married Barney Carstin Meland. They bought a small farm/ranch on the Moreau River--fifteen miles north of Dupree, SD, where they lived their entire married life. To this union were born three children: Judith Ann, Joyce Carol, and Theodore Carstin. Besides raising a family, Edith spent her time helping her husband with the operation of the farm/ranch.
 
Edith was an early riser and, every morning, the family woke to the aroma of breakfast cooking. She was a very hard worker as she drove tractor, worked in the fields cutting and hauling hay, helped plant and harvest the crops and rode horseback every day to check on the cattle and sheep. Edith worked cattle, pulled calves, milked cows, helped with branding and shearing, herded sheep, and raised bum lambs, chickens, turkeys and geese. Edith also planted a huge garden each year and did lots of canning. She would organize crews to help pick wild grapes, choke cherries and buffalo berries so that she could make homemade jellies, jams and syrups. Edith was known far and wide for her wonderful cooking; homemade breads and pies, especially her famous lemon pie. When anyone stopped at the Meland’s home, they were always treated to the likes of a banquet.
 
Edith worked outside enduring the scorching heat of summer and the freezing cold of winter (including many blizzards). She kept the coal furnace going and lived for many years without many of today’s modern conveniences. Even though she was bitten by a rattlesnake, there was never any place on earth where Edith would rather have lived. For seventy years, she loved and treasured living and working on their farm/ranch near the rough breaks of the Moreau River. During some winters, their mail and groceries had to be dropped by airplane. In spite of many hardships, music dominated their life. Barney and Edith would sing whenever they traveled in their car, and they would sing every evening while Barney played the guitar and/or harmonica.
 
Even though her whole world revolved around the farm/ranch, Edith was very active in her homemaker’s Extension club, as she held several offices including president. She helped her club serve many meals at community functions. Edith received state recognition for 78years of club membership and dedication to her community. She won many ribbons at the local county fair for her breads, pies, canning and garden produce. As long as she was able, Edith helped cook for the annual “Nebraska Day–Dupree Community Picnic”. The ladies cook soup in a huge caldron hung from a tripod over an open fire. This takes place at the Woodward farm, down by a creek near Dupree, for all to enjoy. Barney and Edith did almost everything together, and they rarely missed a community function at Dupree, Isabel, Faith or Eagle Butte. During their later years, they would visit the various Senior Citizens’ Centers where Edith would visit and play pinochle while Barney visited and played pool. After her husband, Barney, died in 1999, Edith sold the ranch to her neighbor, Greg Serr, but she continued to live at the farm for another nine years.
 
In 2009, Edith spent three months in the Mobridge nursing home receiving therapy, due to a fall. She then moved to Bison, SD where she has lived in a senior apartment at Homestead Heights for the past nine years. In 2015, Edith spent another eight months in the Mobridge nursing home recovering from a stroke. In March of 2016, Edith’s great-niece, Pam Peterson, moved from Oregon to become her full-time caretaker which made it possible for Edith to return to her comfortable little apartment. She has spent the past years reading, watching T.V., visiting on the phone and enjoying coffee with many wonderful friends and beloved family members. Edith’s entire life revolved around her family and friends.
 
She was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. Edith dearly loved her family and looked forward to spending time with them whenever she could. Both Edith and Barney strived to live their lives to please the Lord. They were involved with their church and instilled the “Love of God” in their children. They would close every day with family devotions which included reading the Bible, and having each family member say evening prayers.
 
On January 3, 2018, Edith entered the Hettinger Hospital where she received treatment for congestive heart failure. On January 25, she was moved to the Good Samaritan Society Nursing Home in Mott, ND. Edith passed away peacefully on Friday, February 2, 2018 at the age 98.
 
Edith is survived by her daughter, Joyce Carol “Meland” Waddell of Bison, SD; her son-in-law, Don and Peggy Waddell of Mobridge, SD; her daughter-in-law, Sandy and Paul Swenson of Hot Springs, SD; eight grand-children, twenty-three great-grandchildren and one great-great grandson: Arnie Waddell (Dylan and Nicholas) of Murdo, SD; Brenda Iwan (Morgan, Tanner, Megan and Sheena) of Scotland, SD; Carstin & Pete Jerzak (Casey, Kyle-son-Quill, Tom, Brad, Adam, and Michael) of Whitewood, SD; Darilee & Matt Romey (Carlee, Kaden, and Ciara) of Black Hawk, SD; Tina & Monty Eisenbraun (Seth, Susan, and Summer) of Rapid City, SD; Jared & Stephanie Waddell (Zac, Jack, and Joseph) of Broken Arrow, OK; Michelle & Eric Meland (Nicholas)of Rapid City, SD; and Kathleen Hauff (Bryan) of Columbus, GA; special niece and caretaker, Pam Peterson of Bison, SD; special friend and caretaker, Teddi Carlson of Bison, SD; and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, second cousins, etc.
 
Edith was preceded in death by her grandparents: Jared & Susan Fuller and August & Edie Kramer; her parents: George & Lillian “Bulleous” Fuller; her four siblings and their spouses: Leslie “Tuffy” & Maye Fuller, Hobert & Helen Fuller, Harlow & Amy Fuller, Bessie & George O’Riley; her husband, Barney Carstin Meland; her son, Theodore Carstin Meland; her daughter, Judith Ann “Meland” Waddell; her son-in-law, Frederic “Jack” Waddell; two grandsons, James Brian Meland and Breck Alan Waddell; as well as numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, etc.
 
Funeral services were held at the Bison Presbyterian Church on Saturday, Feb. 10, 2018, with Pastor Florence Hoff officiating. Edith was buried next to her husband, Barney, at the Dupree Cemetery in Dupree, South Dakota.

The Pioneer Review

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