Melvin "Mel" Wilford Quale

To view the services of Mel Quale please visit: https://www.youtube.com/@immanuellutheranchurchtwin7024/streams Melvin Quale (Mel) was called home by the Lord, on April 26th 2023, following a decade long struggle with bladder cancer. Mel was born at his parents farm near Carlyle, Montana on August 21, 1936, to William and Melinda (Susott) Quale and was Baptized at the Carlyle Lutheran Church on Sept 27, 1936. He attended a one room rural school through 8th grade and graduated from Wibaux County High School in 1954. Mel was blessed with hard-working parents who trusted the Lord above all. During high school he became interested in television technology and enrolled in a Chicago based television repair correspondence course. (Industrial Training Institute) Because his father had an eye condition of extreme myopia that could not be corrected with lenses at that time, Mel became the driver of trucks and tractors at an early age. In addition to helping on the farm he worked part time at City Service Garage in Wibaux. After high school he continued to help on the family farm, worked with a grain elevator construction crew and for United Geophysical, exploring for oil. In the fall of 1955 Mel relocated to Los Angeles where he studied at Western Electronics Institute. He was then employed by RCA Service Co. in Hollywood, California.This was a perfect time to live in Southern California; there was prosperity, low crime, the beach, the mountains and desert. Christianity flourished. Mel took it all in. Early in 1958 Mel and Helen Moore met at a church roller-skating party, and in August they were married at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Los Angeles. In November 1959, their son Duane was born in Glendale. In 1960, the family moved to Twin Falls where he was employed by Factory Radio and then M & Y Electric as an electronics technician. Sons, Steve and Bruce completed God's gift of children to this union. In 1966 he and Helen opened a TV repair business now known as Quale’s Electronics. Sales of television and home electronics soon became the focus, but he never lost his love for hands-on consumer electronics repair. His career as a technician spanned 64 years. A great joy for Mel was working with Helen and the successful continuation of the business by son’s Steve and Bruce and their families. Every grandson and 1 granddaughter worked in the business at some time, much to the delight of customers. Mel's enduring hobby was riding dirt-bikes where he explored countless trails up close and personal. Utah’s red rock desert was a favorite destination He was a charter member of the Magic Valley Trail Machine Association (MVTMA) and a tireless advocate for responsible motorized recreation. At 80 he reluctantly gave up dirt-bikes and opted for 4 wheel (ATV/UTV) adventure machines. He was a Rotarian for 30 plus years, a Paul Harris Fellow, active in Republican politics and the Idaho Recreation Council. Mel was a member of the Bureau of Land Management Resource Advisory Council (RAC) for a number of years representing off-road vehicles. He had great respect for BLM staff and considered many to be personal friends. He was an active member of Peace Lutheran Church in Filer for many years and completed his journey toward the Resurrection at Immanuel Lutheran in Twin Falls. He loved to read; especially technology, world history, the Bible, adventure, heroism and WWII in the Pacific. He was preceded in death by his parents William and Melinda; infant twin sisters, Florence and Flora, granddaughter Kristin Quale, in-laws James and Maxine Moore, brother-in-law Jimmy Moore, and nephew Dean Heileman. He was also preceded in death my many dear customers and life long friends. He is survived by Helen, his loving and patient wife of nearly 65 years; children Duane (Karen) of Whittier Ca, Steve (Sonya) and Bruce (Dana) of Twin Falls; sisters Ruth Stelter of Helena Mt. and Annette Palo (Ron) of Belvidere, Illinois. Sister in law Julia Moore of Monroe,WA. Six grandchildren; Darcy, Ryan, Jenna, Austin, Ashley and Jason: Four great-grandchildren; numerous nieces, nephews, customers and friends. The family wishes to thank the doctors, staff and especially the nurses at Huntsman Cancer Center in Salt Lake City, and St Lukes Cancer Institute of Twin Falls for the skill, dedication and kindness shown to Mel over the many years. It is suggested that memorials be directed to Immanuel Lutheran Church, Twin Falls.