Kenneth L. Mellinger, 56, of Sheridan, Wyoming, passed away on November 26th, 2009 at Sheridan Memorial Hospital. Memorial services will be 10:00 A. M. Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009 at Trinity Lutheran Church with Pastor Phil Wold officiating. Arrangements are with Champion Ferries Funeral Home.

Ken was born on March 17th, 1953 in Great Falls, Montana to Russell Sheldon Mellinger and Dorothy (nee Thorbjornson) Mellinger. He grew up on the Montana highline, attending school in Conrad, MT and Cut Bank, MT, graduating from Cut Bank High School in 1971. He graduated from Eastern Montana College in Billings, MT in 1975 with a degree in accounting and became a CPA. He met the love of his life, Leslie Slade, while at Cut Bank High School, and they were married on September 8th, 1973 in Cut Bank, MT. Together they had 2 children, Andrea and Jessica.

Ken and his family moved for a brief time to Bartlesville, OK and Denver, CO before settling in Sheridan, WY. He was a founding partner of Harker Mellinger. He belonged to the Lions Club and enjoyed serving on the library board and numerous other organizations throughout his life. He was a devoted family man and found his greatest joy in spending time with his wife, children, and, especially, his grandson, Tristin. He was a founding member of the Jackson Creek Hunt Club and enjoyed spending his weekends hunting pheasant, though he always said that the birds were pretty safe when he was in the field. He liked to golf and fish and enjoyed traveling as well.

He is survived by his wife, Leslie, of Sheridan; daughters, Andrea Mellinger, of Butte, MT, and Jessica Mellinger, of Madison, WI; his mother, Dorothy Mellinger, of Cut Bank, MT; one sister, Charlene Cloninger, of Pittsburgh, PA; and one grandson, Tristin Mellinger, of Butte, MT.

Memorials in Ken’s name can be directed to the Sheridan Advocacy and Resource Center and the Sheridan County Fulmer Public Library.

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