Melvin "Mel Dew" Peoples Jr.

Melvin Wilson “Mel Dew” Peoples Jr. “Isnana Nagin” (Stands Alone) was born in Devils Lake, North Dakota on November 16, 1973, the son of Catherine Howard and the late Melvin Peoples Sr. Melvin left us on Thursday, September 2, 2021.

The Wake for Mel Dew will be held on Monday, September 13, 2021 at the Fort Totten Wellness Center beginning at 4:00 p.m. with a time of prayer and remembrance at 7:00 p.m.  The procession to Fort Totten will leave at 3:00 p.m. from the City Plaza, Devils Lake.

Funeral Service will be on Tuesday, September 14^th at 10:00 a.m at the Wellness Center with Reverend Paul Schuster officiating.  Melvin will be laid to rest in St. Jerome’s Cemetery, rural Fort Totten beside his beloved son Jaylen.

Growing up, Melvin attended Four Winds up until the 11th grade. After a year out of school, he attended Job Corp. He came back home and began work at Dakota Tribal Industries. After working some time there, he moved over to work at Sioux Manufacturing Corp. He worked many places during his time on this earth including Spirit Lake Casino in various departments. He also was a firefighter and traveled many states to fight fires. He met his wife, Lisa Peoples (KillsPlenty) when they were teenagers. Melvin and Lisa became one when they got married in 1992. After some years of marriage, they welcomed their son, Jalen Ajay Peoples, on September 7, 1997. Melvin had a great sense of humor, always cracking a joke. He spent most of his day with his children and grandchildren. He would take them for walks, driving them through the parks, or sitting at home visiting them. Especially his daughter, Melvine (Baby Mel) and his little sidekick, Kyle Vivier Jr, but he called him “Jr. Bear”. When he wasn’t spending time with his kids and grandkids, he was spending time with his friends playing horseshoes, cornhole, or 6-5-4. Melvin was a very likable guy and had many friends. Melvin also loved playing basketball and softball mainly with his family.  

Melvin’s loving family includes his wife, Lisa Peoples; his daughter, Melvine Peoples; his adopted daughters, Willanette (Clayton Jr) Dubois and Shanowa Whiteman; his mother, Catherine Howard; his adopted sisters, Lea (Freeman) Whiteshield, Ervinetta (Kevin) Blueshield, Lynette Lovejoy, Franny Greyhorn-Peoples, Debbie Little, Heather Snow and Raini Howard; his brothers, Ivan Lovejoy Sr and Ralph Peoples; his adopted brothers, Irvin Killsplenty Jr, Wesley BigTrack, Cameron Howard and Faron Howard; Nieces, Julia Hill, Avril Tomahawk, Julianne Hill, Kyramae GoodShot, Lili Littlewind, Bernice Blueshield and CaLiyah Dubois; Nephews, Ivan Lovejoy Jr, Jay Lovejoy, Chucky Lovejoy, Akiro Tomahawk, Irvin Tomahawk, Anthony Littlewind, Phillip Killsplenty, Julian Hill, Julius Hill, Silas Longie, Juneau Longie, Irvin Blueshield and Kyle Vivier Jr.

          He is preceded in death by grandmother; Virginia Peoples; father, Melvin Peoples Sr; uncles; Victor, Wilford, Eugene Peoples; sister, Benadetta Lovejoy, mother and father in law, Bernice and Irvin Killsplenty Sr; adopted sister, Lynette BigTrack; son, Jalen Peoples; nephew, Quentin Lovejoy; grandkids, Kylette and Kyzer GoodShot.

Pallbearers will be Brian Thunder, Ted Snell, Clay DuBois Jr., Wesley BigTrack, Alfred Longie Jr., Darrell ThreeIrons, Bill Tomahawk and Anthony Littlewind and escort Kyle Vivier Jr.

Honorary Pallbearers: All of Melvin’s Horseshoe Kodas, Mr. and Mrs. Tony McDonald, Mr. and Mrs, Josie Lawrence, Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Hale, Mr. and Mrs. Larry Thiele, Darlene Wadsworth,, Ann Wadsworth, Florine Harrison and family, Trinia Brownshield and Family, Clarice Brownshield and family, Carmen Littlewind and family Delphine Littlewind and family, Selena Thompson, Anna Chaske and family, Belva and Franny Greyhorn and family, Gloria DeMarce and family, Mr. and Mrs. John Chaske, Lorna Brownshield and family, Kevin Dauphinais, Raymond Cavanaugh, Myra Pearson and family, Merrill IronHawk and family, Helena Littleghost and family, Edna Cavanaugh McCaslin and many other dear friends and family.