Dewey County Obituary
Sunnyside Cemetery

aka Vici

© Shaw-Redinger Funeral Home
VICI, DEWEY CO, OK
(permission granted)
Submitted by: Ann Weber

MELVIN DUANE HALDERMAN

April 17, 1928 - September 16, 2017

Melvin Duane Halderman was born on April 17th, 1928 to Albert Edward and Vernice (Hodges) Halderman. Melvin was born on the family farm West of Vici where Vernice’s parents homesteaded during the land run.

Melvin grew up on the family farm until adulthood. He went to school at Vici and graduated with the class of 1945. During his school years he spent Saturdays shining shoes, and working for Guy Beck selling and buying cream and eggs. He later worked in a creamery in Woodward. He also worked in a green bean factory in Oregon; Boeing, and a railroad in Kansas, Ferguson Ford in Woodward, and a Phillip 66 station in Vici. He helped build a nursing home in Woodward. He and his wife Barbara owned and ran the Mobile and Conoco stations and the Dairy Land in Vici. They also managed Granny’s Quick Stop in Vici. Melvin also worked for Vici coop, and Dewey County and loved being a cattle farmer.

On April 9th, 1947 Melvin was living in a two -story house when the big deadly tornado hit Woodward. He was blown out the second story across the street through a business window. Someone saw him wondering the streets and drove him to the hospital where he received several stitches in his head. He only remembered waking up in the hospital.

Melvin was drafted into the Army which took him to many countries. Two of the countries were Germany and France. He was the head cook while serving in the Army. While riding in one of the planes, the motor caught fire and blackened all the windows and they had to make an emergency landing where everyone made it off the plane safe.

On May 23, 1954 Melvin married Barbara Martin of Canton, OK. They made their first home in two rooms of Melvin’s Grandmother Barnes’ home where the Vici baseball field is now located. To this union three children were born; Melvin Dwayne, Nancy Gail and Tina Leann. A few years later they moved West of Vici on the farm where Melvin was born and continued living there until Melvin entered the Vici Nursing Home November of 2015. Barbara still lives on the family Centennial farm.

Melvin and Barbara loved square dancing for several years. They also loved buying and selling cattle. They would travel across Oklahoma, into Texas, and New Mexico for cattle. They would bottle and bucket feed baby calves in all kinds of weather. Melvin made several friends and helped many people out while working in the full-service filling stations.

After retirement, he would meet up with several friends at the Vici Restaurant and then later at the Quick Stop for coffee early in the morning. One of Melvin’s greatest joys was spending time with his grandkids and great grandsons. He also like to go and watch them play sports.

Melvin is preceded in death by his parents, one brother and sister-in-law Orvis and Lorene Halderman, one great grandson Derrick Layne Lawrence. He is survived by his wife of 63 years Barbara, one son Dwayne Halderman, two daughters and husbands Nancy and Steve Lawrence, Tina and Kevin Lopez, all of Vici; five grandsons and wives; Adam and Merri Halderman, Sheldon and Audrea Halderman, Jason and Jennifer Lawrence, Jeremy and Tammi Lawrence, and Kevin and Michelle Lopez, all of Vici; one granddaughter and husband Jamie and Chris McElroy of Yukon; ten great grandsons, one brother Darell Halderman of Albuquerque, New Mexico; three nieces, two nephews, and many other relatives and friends.

Memorials may be made to the Vici EMT in care of Shaw Funeral Home.