Paulette Lee Meland, loving wife, mother, grandmother and friend passed away on April 11, 2025.

Paulette was born in Deadwood, SD on May 9, 1942 to Alta Smith and Damien Heinen.  Paulette attended the Sturgis School System all 12 years and graduated from High School in May, 1961.  She attended Black Hills State College at Spearfish and received a Bachelor Degree of Science in May of 1965.

Paulette taught school at Four corners, Wyoming for one year.  She then worked for the State of South Dakota as a social worker, employed at Rapid City, Martin, Belle Fourche, and then Sturgis, South Dakota.

Paulette married Arvid Meland, June 30, 1973.  In 1980 Christopher Robert Meland was born to the couple.  Six weeks after Christopher was born, Paulette retired from Social Work to be at home with Christopher.

In 1986 Paulette started employment with the Meade County School District working for the school lunch program and she worked there until she retired.

Paulette was a quilter and entered several quilts in various quilt shows throughout the Black Hills.  Quilting was her passion and she made many gifts for family members and friends.

Paulette was a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Sturgis and was an active choir member.

Paulette was preceded in death by her mother, Alta Reuppel, father, Martin Reuppel, (Buster), Uncles, Harley and Marvin Smith, Aunt Pearl Trohkimoinen, and her maternal Grandparents Robert and Pauline Smith.

Survivors include; her husband, Arvid Meland, son Christopher (Tessa), Sturgis, daughters, Becky Israelson (Duayne), Stephanie Majzner (Jerry), Sturgis and son, Paul Meland, (Diana) Black Hawk, Grandchildren (Chris and Tessa) - Korbin, Kerrigan, Kwynnlee, Kambria, Karsey, (Becky and Duayne) - Corrine, Jason, Michael, Zacquory, Alicia, Vanessa, (Stephanie/Jerry) - Colin, Karena, Tiffany, 25 great grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers a memorial has been established to Grace Lutheran Quilters.

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