Lawrence Berger Meland (Scotty)

Eagle Butte, SD

1936?, Unknown,

Lawrence Berger Meland, 101, of Spearfish, passed away on Feb. 9, 2019, in Sturgis. He was also known as Scotty, a name he was given when he acquired a Scottish hat left in a sheep herder’s wagon when working at the age of 10 herding sheep at Eagle Butte.

Lawrence was born in Eagle Butte, to Frederick and Bertha (Finwick) Meland on Feb. 1, 1918. As a child, he lived in sod houses and log cabins and once lived in a house with a wooden floor. After he graduated from Eagle Butte High School, he worked in the CCC camps during the Great Depression until drafted into the army, 10 months prior to WWII; he finished his European military service by participating in the liberation of various Holocaust camps. He received the Bronze Battle Star for his service in WWII. At the end of the war he went to work for the Chicago, Milwaukee, St, Paul and Pacific Railway for 33 years until retirement in 1978. His work as a depot agent took him to many towns in North Dakota and South Dakota.

He loved walking great distances, especially between Spearfish and Belle Fourche on his birthday, Feb 1. Several times, local newspaper reporters interviewed him on those trips; when asked to what he attributed his health at the age of ninety, he replied, "I have been known to drink a beer or two."

During the war, he married Irene Weisbrod from Vancouver, Canada in 1942, at Whidbey Island, Wash. Lawrence was the last surviving member of a family of six siblings. He was preceded in death by his wife, Irene, and two sons, Ricky and Larry and dear friend of 35 years, Helen Wingenbach.

Lawrence is survived by four daughters, Lois, Sharon, Lorene and Connie and two sons, Ronald and Omar, 18 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great-grandchild.

Graveside services will be held June 21, 2019, at 2 p.m. at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis.

Do you have additional information about Lawrence Meland

We would like to included it. Please write or email us at History "at" SouthDakotaCCC "dot" org.