He was born on Jan. 8, 1954 in Blackfoot, Idaho to Aldin Maxwell Salverson and Mildred Ashilman Salverson.
Mel was raised and attended school in Blackfoot, Idaho, graduating from Blackfoot High School in the class of 1972. Mel then attended ISU for a time before attending BMCC in Pendleton, Oregon where he earned his Associate Degree. He worked for several years as a TV Repair Technician and then went to work at JR Simplot in Hermiston. Mel trained and became an electrician while at Simplot where he worked for 13 years until they closed the Hermiston plant. He later worked for Hermiston Foods until his failing health no longer allowed him to work earlier this year. Mel was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints where he had many callings and was a member of the Hermiston Amateur Radio. He enjoyed electronics, photography, computers, and going for drives in the mountains.
He is survived by his wife Karen Salverson, Stanfield; stepdaughter, Brandy VanDerlith, Blackfoot, Idaho; stepbrothers, Marvin Clifford, New Orleans, and Robert Clifford, Santa Fe, N.M.; stepsister, Jaylene Worrell, Dillon, Mont.; half-sister, Ann Marie Jensen, Blackfoot, Idaho; and stepgrandchildren, Summer & Austin.
Mel was preceded in death by his parents, stepson, Andrew Rupe;and sister, Karen Whiting; and stepsister, Julie Daley.
A funeral service was held on Tuesday, November 18, 2014 at he Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Hermiston.
Please sign the condolence book at burnsmortuaryhermiston.com.
Burns Mortuary of Hermiston is in care of arrangements.
