Paul Mason Melvin, 86, died peacefully in his home from complications related to a 13-year battle with Parkinson’s Disease. He was surrounded by love, care, and gratitude from his children, son-in-law, and caregivers.
Paul was born on May 4, 1937, in New Deal, Montana, to John Mason Melvin and Olive Flesjer Melvin. New Deal, in Valley County, was a short-lived boom town created by constructing the nearby Fort Peck Dam in the 1930s. During WWII, Paul’s father enlisted in the U.S. Army and was sent to South Korea. Upon his return, the family moved back to Montana, first to Great Falls, then to Butte, where Paul graduated from Butte High School in 1955.
While in high school, Paul’s unique hand-eye coordination showed up on the football and baseball field, which helped play a significant role in his career later in life.
Paul attended Montana State University for a year before joining the U.S. Air Force, where he served as a navigator from 1957-1959. At the end of his full-time service, he continued in the Montana Air National Guard while he finished his degree in chemistry and liberal arts at MSU. He was honorably discharged as a captain and, later in life, received an Honorary Doctorate from MSU in 2017.
As an MSU student, Paul spotted a woman in the library and vowed to try to get to know her. A few years later, while in the Guard in Great Falls, Paul attended a party where he finally met that woman from the MSU library, Terry Potter, an art teacher at East Junior High School. Paul and Terry married in Helena on August 18, 1962, before leaving for New Orleans, where he entered Tulane University Medical School.
While in medical school, Paul discovered his love of orthopedics. Upon graduation, he was accepted into the University of Iowa’s orthopedics residency, where he often said he was taught by some of the world’s finest surgeons.
Paul and Terry returned to Great Falls in 1971, where he practiced medicine and was the first physician in the city to do a total hip, total knee, and arthroscopic knee surgery. After 30 years as a physician, Paul worked as medical affairs chief at Benefis Hospital and Mountain Pacific Foundation and finally as a staff physician at the VA Hospital at Fort Harrison in Helena.
Paul is survived by his children Sheila (Bob Habeck) of Helena; John (Wendy Melvin) of Missoula; and Mickey (Chris Campbell) of Bozeman and his grandchildren Colin Habeck, Keaton Habeck, Addie Melvin, and Porter Melvin. His sister, Lynne Kitto, continues to live in Minneapolis, MN. He is preceded in death by Terry, who passed away on June 3, 2023, and his parents.
A lover of golf, writing poetry, reading, learning new things, family vacations, traveling the world, and the MSU Bobcats, Paul touched countless lives with his relentless care for others.
In place of flowers, please consider a memorial in Paul’s name to Montana State University’s program dedicated to nursing education for Native American students. Send donations to MSU Caring For Our Own Program, P.O. Box 173560, Bozeman, MT 59717-3560.
A Celebration of Paul’s Life will be held from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., Saturday, May 18, 2024 at the Celtic Cowboy Dark Horse Hall, 116 1st Ave. S., Great Falls, Montana, 59401.
Service Schedule
Celebration of His Life
12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Saturday May 18, 2024
Celtic Cowboy Dark Horse Hall
116 1st Ave. South
Great Falls, Montana 59401
Service Schedule
Celebration of His Life
12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Saturday May 18, 2024
Celtic Cowboy Dark Horse Hall
116 1st Ave. South
Great Falls, Montana 59401
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Karen Korst says
Dr. Melvin was a super doctor and surgeon. One of the former nurses that I worked with, was from New Deal. It was always interesting to hear about, way back when. Peace and prayers to the family.
Dave Stahly says
Paul and Terry were neighbors of ours (Carol and Dave Stahly) and we miss them very much. Also, Paul was a golfing pal of Dave and always gave Dave a ride in his cart. We have many found memories.
Dave Stahly says
Palu and Terry were neighbors of ours (Carol and Dave Stahly) and we miss them very mucj. Also, Paul was a golfing pal of Dave’s and always gave Dave a ride in his cart. We have many found memories.
Jack King says
To the Melvin clan…Lisa and I were saddened to read this morning of Paul’s passing. We’ve so enjoyed our long and fun relationship with you all and as caterers were able to share in several of your family celebrations. I knew Paul as a mentor, a colleague, an athletic advisory and most of all as a friend. We served together on the Board at Benefis, we talked often as members of the athletic club in Great Falls, and you all were terrific customers at our restaurant in downtown Great Falls. As recently as Terry’s memorial celebration last summer, Paul was wanting me to meet with him for an idea he had to help our rural hospitals. A favorite memory was Paul walking up to me while I was working out on a stationary bike and asking me “what’s up? I always worry when i see one of my runners on a bike”. He was was a wonderful man and I learned much from him and always enjoyed his wit and wisdom. I know you all will miss them and we wish you the pleasure and warmth of your memories. We look forward to seeing you all in the spring.
Jack & Lisa King
Ann Dues says
Dr Melvin was one of the most talented orthopedic surgeons I had the pleasure to work with beginning in the late 1970’s. He as also my surgeon on several knee surgeries, one of which had to be delayed due to him wrecking his bicycle the day before. He always put his patient’s safety first and he was instrumental in helping bring in the (now common) practice of surgical site marking and the pre-op timeout. He was a mentor to new physicians and always helpful to surgical staff. You always knew you would have a great day when you were assigned his room, especially if his good friend Dr Bloemendaal was assisting. I miss both of them.
Lynn Ensley says
I first met Dr. Melvin as a MSU Nursing Student at what was then called Deaconess Hospital. He gave our class a lecture about the placement of artificial hips and talked of his plans to start performing these surgeries. After starting to work as a brand new RN I found out what a kind and patient doctor he was. I was frightened to death of many of the MD”s but he was always there to answer my questions and educate me even with a smile! Over the years I enjoyed working with him on various units in the “Deaconess/Benefis” building. I am saddened to think he had to battle with a disease of his own before his passing and am very sorry for your loss. I’m sure many people have very fond memories of him. Lynn Ensley
Doris copenhaver says
So very sorry for your loss. I knew your father and your mother Terry through our Saturday bicycle riding group. We met weekly to ride around the city of helena and then had brunch at each other’s houses. We always enjoyed coming to Terry’s house for our brunch where we ate and spoke with Paul. Wonderful memories.
M Susan Geise says
I had an appointment today at Benefis Orthopedics. Be assured that Paul continues to be held in very high esteem there. Even young people who didn’t know him personally spoke very highly of him and his reputation; they wished they had been able to work with him.
Paul and Terry Melvin, together again.
Sara Medley says
I had the pleasure of working with Dr. Melvin when he worked with our team members at Mountain-Pacific Quality Health in Helena. Passionate about improving the lives of those we served, he led the surgical infection projects across our region. He insisted that hospitals, their board of directors, and physicians weren’t doing enough to improve quality of care for patients. He was right. He also didn’t hesitate in challenging me to do more. We missed him so much when he left.
My deep condolences to his family.