Melbourne McCrea

Melbourne McCrea, age 95, of Twin Brooks, SD, passed away on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, at Avantara – Milbank.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, March 14, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. at Mundwiler Funeral Home in Milbank, SD. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the funeral home on Tuesday. Dr. Rev. DeVern Schwenn will officiate the service and interment will take place at the Wilmot Cemetery in Wilmot, SD, at a later date.

Melbourne Kenneth McCrea, son of Kenneth and Margaret (Schwandt) McCrea was born on August 25, 1927, in Ortonville, MN. With the exception of his time in the Army, he lived all his life on the family farm in Kilborn Township of Grant County, SD.

Melbourne was baptized at Trinity Lutheran Church and was a member of the Zion Presbyterian Church in Twin Brooks, SD, serving as elder when it closed. He then joined the First Presbyterian Church in Wilmot, SD.

He attended Kilborn #4 Country School then started farming at an early age with his younger brother. 

In 1951, Melbourne was drafted into the United States Army and served two years in Korea in the 2nd Infantry Division, serving long enough to rotate out and then served as a medic in an Army hospital in Japan until his honorable discharge in 1953.

In 1964, he and his brother, Orgene formed McCrea Brothers Partnership in crops and livestock farming. After semi-retiring, he began going on bus tours and enjoyed travel to the east and west coasts, Iceland, Portugal, Canada, Nashville, and to Branson several times. 

Melbourne provided a home for his mother after his father died in 1973. In 1980, he built a new house where he, his mother, and sister, Verda lived. Combined with Verda’s help, his mother lived to be nearly 103, passing in 2001. He was a dear uncle to his nieces and nephews who have fond memories of being on the farm.

Melbourne is survived by his brother, Orgene (Karen) McCrea of Twin Brooks, SD; sister, Verda McCrea of Milbank, SD; his nieces: Kim McCrea of Milbank, SD; Sheryl Pappas of Brookings, SD; Karla Boone of Blomkest, MN; and Carmen (Scott) Collins of Thief River Falls, MN; his nephews: Von McCrea of Twin Brooks, SD; Kevin (Sheila) Schimmel of Webster. SD; and Gary (Connie) Sauer of Webster, SD; along with many grand-nieces and nephews and their families.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Kenneth and Margaret; sister, Verona and husband, Larry Sauer; sister, Violette and husband, Lester Schimmel; and Karla’s husband, Roy Boone.