Marlyes M. Mellmer, 72, Reeder, died Friday, March 5, 2010 at St. Benedict’s Health Center, Dickinson. Mass of Christian Burial for Marlyes will be at 2 p.m., Tuesday, March 9, 2010 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Reeder, with Fr. Joseph Chipson as the celebrant. Interment will take place at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan. Visitation will be on Sunday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., and on Monday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Ladbury Funeral Service, Dickinson, and on Monday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., at the church. Visitation will continue one hour prior to services at the church on Tuesday. There will be a rosary at 5 p.m., on Sunday at Ladbury Funeral Service and a rosary & vigil at 7 p.m., on Monday at the church.

Marlyes Novotny was born January 4, 1938 on the family farm near Beach, the daughter of Frank and Edith (Allen) Novotny. She was raised and educated in the Beach and Sentinel Butte area.

Marlyes married Roy Mellmer on June 11, 1956 in Beach. She attended beautician school in Bismarck where she earned her license in Cosmetology. The Mellmer’s lived in Dickinson for a few years prior to moving to New England in 1961. In 1974 the family moved to the farm by Reeder where they have lived since. Marlyes worked as a Cosmetologist for over 20 years and while on the farm she loved raising exotic animals. They farmed east of Reeder from 1974 to their retirement in 2006.

Marlyes had a passion for art, where she enjoyed oil painting, pencil art and photography. She loved to teach and pass on what she knew to her grandchildren. In her spare time she enjoyed crossword puzzles, camping and boating at the lake, raising horses and using them as part of her art. Marlyes loved to cook and especially spending time with her grandchildren and family gatherings. She belonged to the Adams County Art Association.

Marlyes is survived by her husband, Roy; three sons, Rick (Gloria) Mellmer, Dickinson, Michael (Heidi) Mellmer, Reeder, and Tracy (Darlene) Mellmer, Beulah; 14 grandchildren, Erik (Krystal) Mellmer, Lynn (Dalon) Grimm, Marc Mellmer, Jake Mellmer, Luke Mellmer, Dalton Mellmer, Preston Mellmer, Damon Mellmer, Jaxon Mellmer, Quinn Mellmer, Evan Mellmer, Tyrel Mellmer, Spencer Mellmer and Mason Mellmer; three great-grandchildren, Grace, Jacoby and Bennett Grimm; and one brother, Edward Novotny, Beach. She was preceded in death by her parents; step-father, Ray Runk; and her sister-in-law, Virginia Novotny.