Melvin “Mel” Tuffs, 75, of Mt. Vernon, died Thursday, May 31, 2018, at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls. 

Funeral services were Monday, June 4, at Resurrection Lutheran Church in Mitchell. Visitation was Sunday, June 3, at the Will Funeral Chapel in Mitchell. Burial was in the Mount Vernon Cemetery. 

Melvin Floyd Tuffs, son of Fred and Josephine (Larson) Tuffs, was born on Feb. 3, 1943, in Olivet. He moved to Milltown and then to Woonsocket in 1969. Melvin was currently living in Mt. Vernon. He was employed as a mechanic and musician for over 40 years. 

Melvin was united in marriage with Gloria Tollefson on May 27, 1989, in Mt. Vernon. 

He loved watching and playing golf, motorcycles, cars, his family and playing in the band. Melvin also enjoyed toys, tractors, hunting and was a gun enthusiast. His greatest pleasure was farming, being outdoors, visiting with family and friends, and his love of animals. 

He is survived by his wife, Gloria Tuffs of Mt. Vernon; his children, Rick Tuffs of Forestburg, Vikki (Roger) Hollenbeck of Stickney, Rodney Tuffs of Sioux Falls, Royce (Jenny) Tuffs of Sioux Falls, Laurinda (Mark) Hubbard of Phoenix, Ariz., Rod Lyman of Phoenix, Ariz., Brenda (Greg) Hartz of Bangor, Maine, and Kurt (Suzanne) Lyman of Dakota Dunes; 20 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; his brothers, Allan (Gloria) Tuffs of Garretson, and Marvin Tuffs; and a brother-in-law, Leroy Sheppard of Mitchell. 

He was preceded in death by his parents; a granddaughter, Stephani Lyman; a sister, Pat Sheppard; a sister-in-law, Martha Hanson; and brothers-in-law, Garry Tollefson, Randy Tollefson and Jim Hanson.