July 2, 1960-October 22, 2024
Melvin Dean Skalla, 86, passed away on October 22, 2024, in St. George, Utah. He was born on June 30, 1938, in Uravan, CO. He married Judy Oliver in Norwood, CO on July 2, 1960. They had been residents of Ridgway, CO for 35 years.
Dean and Judy first met in grade school in Norwood, were high school sweethearts, and continued the courtship in college at CSU in Fort Collins. They were married before their senior year, as Dean finished his civil engineering degree and Judy completed her degree in English.
Dean’s work was in the construction and mining industry, spending his entire career with one company – Kiewit. He was working on road construction in Wyoming when they started having kids. Four rambunctious boys filled the single wide trailer in five years. Driving to the hospital to deliver the fifth, Judy kept hollering from the back for Dean to “pull over, we’re not going to make it!” He finally pulled over and helped with the delivery, then got back behind the wheel and kept driving to the hospital. A few miles down the road Judy suddenly screamed, “It’s a girl!”
The family of seven moved to Omaha, NE in the mid-1970s as Dean transferred to the mining division of Kiewit. When he retired it was an easy decision to go back home to the mountains of western Colorado. Dean took up hobbies like farming hay, cattle ranching and skiing. His favorite job was checking the water on his ranch, which was sometimes code for “I need some alone time.” The couple served a senior mission for the LDS Church in Salt Lake City.
Dean is survived by his beloved wife, Judy; and their five children: Randy (Julie), Mike (Shannon), Bart (Natalie), Pete (Julie) and Carol. Papa Dean has too many grandchildren (20) and great grandchildren (26… so far) to count.
Funeral services will be held Friday, November 8, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. in the Stake Center of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints located at 1521 S. Hillcrest Drive, Montrose, CO. Interment will be at the Norwood Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial gift could be given to Second Chance Humane Society in Ridgway, CO, https://secondchancehumane.org/support-us/donate/.
Arrangements entrusted to the care of Metcalf Mortuary, (435) 673-4221. Please visit our website at www.metcalfmortuary.com for full obituary and condolences. Those unable to attend are invited to view the services at the following link: https:// zoom.us/j/91701888756#success
