Melvin Dean Peterson, age 71, died August 15, 2008 at his
home in Meadview, Arizona. Mr. Peterson was born May 23, 1937, in Winner, South Dakota to Floyd and Thelma Peterson.

Melvin lived in Humboldt County, California after serving in the U.S. Navy from 1954 to 1958 on a destroyer in the Pacific, and as a deep sea diver. After his discharge, he served in the reserves for an additional four years. He was employed by the city of Arcata, and later by Humboldt County as a treatment plant engineer. Melvin lived in Humboldt County for 30 years, and then moved to Meadview, Arizona in 1990.

In retirement, he enjoyed motorcycle riding and especially metal detecting for gold and meteorites in the desert areas of the southwest. He had many sayings, but the most memorable was, “You still in bed? You’re burning daylight.”

He is survived by his wife, Marion Peterson; son, Mark Peterson, of Puyallup, WA; daughter and son-in-law, Lori and George Skrbin, of San Diego, CA; grandchildren, Laura Bartelson, of Las Vegas, NV, Trey Bartelson, of San Diego, CA, Sarah and Don Schenck, of Sumner, WA, Kazan Peterson, of Kent, WA; great grandchildren, Hope and Sierra Schenck; and his stepmother, Maxine Rey, of Prineville, OR.

Sweet Home Funeral Chapel is handling services.