Melvin D. Armstrong

March 1, 1949 - October 23, 2021

Melvin D. Armstrong, 72 of Elm Creek passed away Saturday, October 23, 2021 at Kearney Regional Medical Center in Kearney surrounded by his family. Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m. Thursday, October 28, 2021 at Elm Creek Methodist Church with Pastor Venedith Vargas and Pastor Nate Krizek officiating. Burial will be held at Fort McPherson National Cemetery near Maxwell, NE. Visitation will be 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Wednesday at O’Brien Straatmann Redinger Funeral Chapel in Elm Creek. Memorials are suggested to the Elm Creek Fire and Rescue Department. Condolences may be shared online at www.osrfh.com. Services are entrusted to O’Brien Straatmann Redinger Funeral and Cremation Services. Melvin was born March 1, 1949, to Marion L. and Inez (Hutcheson) Armstrong in Stuart, NE. He grew up on the family farm north of Bassett and graduated from Bassett High School with the class of 1967. He continued his education at Western Nebraska Technical College at Sidney, NE, receiving an associate’s degree in auto body. He worked for John Hurt Chevrolet and Tom’s Body Shop in North Platte, Randy’s Towing in Lexington, L & S Tire and Auto in Elm Creek, and Kearney Towing in Kearney. After retiring, he worked as a farm hand for Lance Bauer of Elm Creek. He also drove a school car for Elm Creek Public Schools. He spent 21 years in the Nebraska Army National Guard. Melvin married Judy Weimer in Sidney, NE on July 27, 1969, and to this union two children were born, a son, Gary and a daughter, Kimberly. He later divorced and married Linda (Hanes) Knox of Curtis, NE on May 24, 1986 in Bassett, NE. The couple made their home in Elm Creek for 30 years. Mel enjoyed hunting deer, turkey and was known to have gone rattlesnake hunting a time or two. He enjoyed spending time with his kids and grandkids. Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Linda of Elm Creek; son, Gary (Jamie) Armstrong of North Platte; daughter, Kim (Kevin) Keys of Omaha; step-son, Jeff (Erin) Knox of Wellfleet, NE; step-daughters, Jodi (Ron) Lemmert of Ogallala, NE and Jami (Bill) Schaffnitt of Kearney; grandchildren, Jessica Ferguson of Bullhead City, AZ, Ellie Nelms, Karlie Armstrong, and Hayden Armstrong, all of North Platte, step-grandchildren, Breanna Vanetta, Jayden Herig, Dalton Knox and Lydia Knox of Wellfleet, NE, and Ayden and Avery Schaffnitt of Kearney; brother, Allen (Evelyn) Armstrong of Bassett, NE. Melvin was preceded in death by his parents; father-in-law, Leo Hanes; and mother-in-law, Ruby Hanes.