Mr. Melvin J. Gibbs
Newcastle, NE
1935-39, 2746, Alcester, SCS-3, Ed. Adviser
1939, 4723, Lacreek, BF-3, Ed. Adviser
Services for Melvin J. Gibbs, 90, who died Monday at a Hot Springs, Ark., hospital, will be 10:30 a.m. Friday at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Custer. The Rev. Gerald Scherer will officiate.
Burial will be in Custer Cemetery, with the Custer American Legion providing military graveside rites.
A wake vigil will be 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the church.
Gibbs was born Aug. 9, 1899, at Newcastle, Neb., to Elmer F. and Mary (Malone) Gibbs. He was raised in Newcastle.
After high school, he joined the Navy and served during World War I. After his military service, he attended the University of Nebraska, the University of Minnesota, and the University of Mexico City.
He married Isabella Jacobs June 1, 1926, in Chamberlain.
He was a school teacher and a Civilian Conservation Corps educational advisor for the state of South Dakota.
Gibbs was superintendent of schools at Turton in 1932. He moved to Custer in 1940 and worked at the Provo Army Depot.
He owned the Custer Cafe, the Black Hills Bakery, a sawmill and an insurance agency. He was a Custer High School teacher. He retired in 1965.
He was a former president of the Custer Chamber of Commerce and a former commander of the American Legion in Custer. He was a member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church.
He was the author of "Middle of the Road.” And he founded the Custer County 1880 (? 1881 ?) Courthouse Museum.
He is survived by a son, John P. Gibbs of Burlingame, Calif.; two daughters, Marylois (Mrs. Robert) Skochdopole of Omaha, Neb., and Felice Rose of Lincoln, Neb.; one brother Donald Gibbs of Topeka, Kan.; one sister, Lois Gibbs of Sioux City, Iowa; 12 grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.
He was preceded in death by his wife in 1957, a son, James, in 1952, and one brother.
McColley Chapel of the Southern Hills in Custer is in charge of arrangements.
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