Melvin "Mel" Tuffs age 75, of Mt. Vernon died Thursday, May 31, 2018 at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls. Funeral services will be 10:00 AM Monday, June 4, 2018 at Resurrection Lutheran Church in Mitchell. Visitation will be 5 to 7 PM Sunday, June 3, 2018 at the Will Funeral Chapel. Burial will be in the Mount Vernon Cemetery.

Melvin Floyd Tuffs, son of Fred and Josephine (Larson) Tuffs, was born February 3, 1943 in Olivet, SD. He moved to Milltown, SD and then to Woonsocket, SD in 1969. Melvin was currently living in Mt. Vernon, SD. 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, SD.

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.

Grateful for having shared his life are his wife, Gloria Tuffs, Mt. Vernon, SD; his children, Rick Tuffs, Forestburg, SD, Vikki (Roger) Hollenbeck, Stickney, SD, Rodney Tuffs, Sioux Falls, SD, Royce (Jenny) Tuffs, Sioux Falls, SD; Laurinda (Mark) Hubbard, Phoenix, AZ, Rod Lyman, Phoenix, AZ, Brenda (Greg) Hartz, Bangor, ME, Kurt (Suzanne) Lyman, Dakota Dunes, SD; 20 grandchildren; 15 great grandchildren; his brothers, Allan (Gloria) Tuffs, Garretson, SD, Marvin Tuffs; a brother-in-law, Leroy Shepard, Mitchell, SD; brothers-in-law, Darrell (Dee Dee) Tollefson, Gene (Kathy) Tollefson and Herb Tollefson; sisters-in-law Sally Tollefson, Dorene (Richard) Polz and Mary Lou Tollefson; many nieces and nephews.

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