Jans Gustav Melby was born November 29, 1963, in Fargo, ND, to Peter and Carole Melby. In his early years, the family lived in Minnesota where Jans enjoyed fishing, snowmobiling, and living life to its fullest. The Melby family moved to Pierre, SD, in 1976 where Jans graduated from Riggs High School in 1982. Jans' teen years were filled with time spent on motorcycles and jet skis.

Jans spent his working years trucking, and worked for Eddie's Truck Service, Cross Country, and most recently for the Coeur Wharf Mine in Lead, SD.

Jans had a passion for snowmobiling and worked part-time grooming trails for the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks. He kept an apartment out at Trailshead Lodge so that he had easy access to his snowmobiling passion, and he made many friends who shared this pastime. An extraordinary friend to many, Jans was an example to all in the way that he loved people and always stepped up to do the right thing for those in need.

Jans finished a life well lived on June 12, 2017, at Hospice of the Hills in Rapid City, SD.

While Jans never married or had a family, he had a myriad of friends who loved him like family. Jans is survived by his younger brother, Kyle, sister-in-law, Lisa, nephew, Jayce, and niece, Jaxin, all of Loveland, CO.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his maternal and paternal grandparents.

Services will be held at Kinkade Funeral Chapel in Sturgis, SD, on Sunday, June 18, 2017, at 2:00 p.m. An inurnment will be at a later date in Pierre, SD.

The family suggests memorials be directed to the South Dakota Snowmobile Association, Snowmobilers for Snowmobilers, PO Box 206, Gary, SD 57237, (605) 272-5900.

Click on link to view service folder