Joan Melby

Joan Schultz Melby was born on New Year’s Day 1932 to Luther and Hattie (Yeska) Schultz. 93 years and 300 days later, Joan passed away on her mother’s birthday, October 28, 2025.

Joan was raised in the Hinsdale South Bench community among the extended families of the Schultzes and the Yeskas. She graduated from Hinsdale High School in 1949. Joan attended college at Western Montana College in Dillon and Northern Montana College at Havre earning a teaching certificate. She taught at rural schools in Choteau County and north of Hinsdale.

Joan married Raymond “Red” Melby on June 9, 1952. They quietly married at the United Methodist Church in Glasgow with friends Bob and Anita Yeska as witnesses. After a honeymoon to Yellowstone Park, they returned home to a surprise three-day shivaree. For years, the memory of that event brought laughter to their eyes and voices. Interestingly, as they were returning home from their honeymoon, a photo was taken when they crossed the Missouri River by ferry, and the photo was later published in the Saturday Evening Post.

They raised five children: Janet, Calton, LaVaun, Dora-Jean, and Susan on the ranch west of Hinsdale. Mom was an outdoor country girl at heart her entire life. She preferred riding horses and cutting hay to any household task yet was a master at sewing and an incredible cook. Mom loved horses, particularly fine Quarter Horses. At ten years old she was already driving the rake team in the hayfield as two of her brothers were serving in WWII. One time a work horse stood on her foot prompting her to say a few inappropriate words. Her mother dryly commented, “Learning some new words, Joan?” That quiet comment influenced mom’s vocabulary for the rest of her life. Mom raised and trained horses for her children and shared her expertise with them. She treasured a painting of her favorite horse, a mare she owned from the Old Sorrel lineage of the King Ranch. A close second passion would be her Herefords, the proud breed with the white face. She was an avid photographer and an EMT. Mom always said that if she did not know how to do something and wanted to learn, she would find a book on the subject and teach herself.

Joan was preceded in death by her parents Lute and Hattie Schultz; her husband of 49 ½ years, Red Melby; her cherished son Calton Melby; her siblings and their spouses Jim and Linda Schultz, Roy and Myrtice Schultz, Mabel and Tom Nelson, Frances and Art Holter, and Bill and Lois Schultz.

Joan is survived by her sister Margie (Bob) Stefczak; her cousin John Yeska; her daughters Janet (Justin) Mader, LaVaun (Mike) McCann, Dora-Jean (Ed) Beil, and Susan (Larry) Apodaca; her grandchildren: Jeremiah (Shelli) Mader, Lisa (Aaron) Ohnstad, Michelle (Mike) Monson, Rob McCann (Megan Woltz), Josh (Mandy Carroll) Beil, Mandy Jo Davis, and Austin (Erika) Beil; her great-grandchildren: Shayla and Garrett Mader, Archer and Addie Ohnstad, Caden and Zach Monson, Gus and Knox Beil, Kadin, Kalvin, Karder, and Kale Davis, Myles and Chet Beil; and many dear nieces and nephews.

The date of interment has yet to be scheduled. If you choose to make a donation in Joan’s memory, please consider the Hinsdale United Methodist Church, the Hinsdale Volunteer Ambulance and Fire Funds, or give to your local food bank.

Even though life was not always easy, mom stated that she was glad she had been able to live the life she had chosen for herself. A loving reminder to her family to follow your own path to happiness.

As per Joan's wishes cremation has taken place and services are being planned for Summer 2026.  Online condolences maybe left for the family at bellmortuarymt.com.