Mel Gomke at last made it all the way up the tunnel to the light on Sept. 9th to be with his Lord. Melvin Arthur Gomke was born in Havre on Feb. 22nd, 1942 to Leona (Kramlich) and Christ Gomke. He attended school all twelve years in the same building in Kremlin. He played basketball and football with the Kremlin Foxes. He enjoyed sports as a spectator and a Babe Ruth coach. Mel spent many Sundays watching football with his three sons and was a lifelong Yankee's fan. Mel was always a farmer at heart but not in practice. He worked various farms as a teen and started adulthood as a grain elevator man. In 1963 he went to Pendroy to be a grain buyer and then to Williams for the G.T.A. company. He enjoyed that country and made many good friends there, then returned to the Hi-line in 1966 to become a grocer. He drove delivery trucks, booked after hours for farmers and eventually started Mel's Building Service. As a grocer, for 22 years Mel's Food operated in Kremlin. When the economy of Kremlin changed, the inventory and equipment moved to the south end of Havre and for 18 years was the neighborhood grocery. In 1963 he married Judi Holsapple and she followed his dreams. (He always had a plan going in his head about a new project, energy efficient houses, a greenhouse, flowerbed and a cabin. Mel has three sons that he felt were his greatest achievement. He taught them the value of money, a work ethic, how to do house repairs and the importance of family. His nine grandchildren were the joy of his life. Mel was Kremlin's Fire Chief for 22 years, was chairman of the Kremlin United Methodist church board, a member of the Kremlin water board, the Hill County Park board. He built a cabin in Beaver Creek Park where there were no trees so he could lovingly make the yard of his dreams. He enjoyed fishing with his sons, buddies and grandchildren. When they all gathered at the cabin he said it was his piece of heaven on earth. Mel was preceded in death by his parents, sisters Ann Beattie, Frances Bitz, Irene Swartz, Ellanora "Red" Larson, and good friend Bob Swinney. Survivors are his wife Judi of 50 years, sons Bill (Debbie) Gomke and children Chris, Josh and Aaron of Charles town, WV; Tim (Debbie) Gomke and children Justin and Tanner of Chinook; Matt (Sierra) Gomke and children Hailey, Cody, Abby and Madison of Sheridan, WY. He leaves a sister, Alma Klobofski of Havre, and brother Don of Kremlin. Memorials may be made for a future campsite in Beaver Creek Park, or of your choice.