Melody Hepper

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Melody Hepper, 55 of Gettysburg, passed away Saturday, January 16, 2016 at Avera St. Luke’s Hospital, Aberdeen, with her family by her side.

Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, January 23, 2016 at the United Methodist Church, Gettysburg with Pastor Jeff Adel presiding. Burial will take place in the spring at the Gettysburg Cemetery. A prayer service was held at 7:00 p.m. Friday, January 22, 2016 at the church with visitation one hour prior.

Melody Ann Maus was born November 4, 1960 to John W. and Shirley (Nolan) Maus in Britton, SD. She spent her early years on the family farm near Havana, ND, and by travelling the world. Before her death, Melody had visited 49 states and 10 different countries.

Melody attended school in Britton, SD, where she enjoyed playing the flute, working as a CNA at the Britton manor, spending time after classes with her beloved grandmother, Effie Maus, and creating wonderful memories and unintentional (?) mischief with her faithful sidekick and sister, Sherry.

After graduating from Britton High School in 1979, Melody attended Northern State University in Aberdeen before she met and married the love of her life, Michael Hepper, on December 5, 1981. Mike and Melody spent their early life near the family farm in Tolstoy, before moving to Gettysburg in 1989. They were blessed with four children: Jessica, Adam Michael, Megan, and Amanda.

Melody enjoyed taking care of others, and dedicated her life to doing just that. In addition to raising her family, Melody helped Mike on the farm and with his work as custodian at the Tolstoy school. She also worked as a nurse’s aide at the Gettysburg Oahe Manor, a med aide in Assisted Living, a Home Health Care aide, and as an activity aide at the Oahe Manor. Melody was with the Oahe Manor in Gettysburg for over 17 years before her illness forced her to stop working.

In her free time, Melody enjoyed visiting with friends and family, doing crafts, planting flowers, gardening, reading, finding the perfect pieces for her extensive angel collection, and making memories with her husband, grandchildren, children, and their husbands. Her yard was beautiful year round, with gorgeous and well-tended flowers in the spring, summer, and fall, and beautiful lights and Christmas magic in the winters. Melody was well known for her knitting, crocheting, and embroidery skills. She enjoyed using her talent by making many costumes, outfits, and accessories for her children as they grew, and by making keepsakes for her grandchildren. Some of those keepsakes included Barbie outfits, scarves, and trick or treat bags. She even made a stuffed 5 ft long crocheted snake for her grandson, Jeffrey, which was a big deal because we all know that Melody hated snakes!

She enjoyed playing games and also making up her own, which the residents and staff at the Oahe Manor should remember well. She shared her love of games and creativity with her grandchildren, and especially with her grandson Nathan. The two spent many hours together playing and enjoying each other's company, and because of her, he plays a mean game of Go Fish! With her granddaughters, Brooke and Aliya, Melody shared her love of baking, art, and finger nail polish. There was rarely a day that manicures were not done when Melody's favorite girls visited!

Melody and her memories are survived by her husband of 34 years, Mike Hepper; three daughters and the sons she never thought she would have: Jessica (Joe) Hall of Vermillion, Megan (Dustin) Lower of Lebanon, and Amanda Hepper of Gettysburg; four grandchildren: Nathan Van Bockel, Jeffrey Hall, Brooke and Aliya Lower; mother and step-father, Shirley and Stan Schaible of Eureka; father and step mother, John W. and Betty Maus of Fallbrook, CA; sister, Sherry (Pat) Powers of Burnsville, MN, and several beloved aunts, uncles, cousins, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, and friends (you know who you are).

Melody is preceded in death by her stillborn son, Adam Hepper, and her paternal and maternal grandparents.

The family suggests memorial contributions to the Gettysburg United Methodist Church.

Luce Funeral Home of Gettysburg has been entrusted with Melody's arrangements.