Melvin Earl Askren, 91, of Holton, KS, passed away Wednesday, April 27, 2022 at Medicalodges Jackson County. He was born December 10, 1930, at the family home, 9 miles southwest of Holton, the son of Roscoe “Earl” and Jennie May (Simmons) Askren.

 He attended Winding Vale School, District #20 for 7 years, then moved to Pleasant Valley, District #8 for the final 3 weeks of his elementary school. He graduated from Holton High School in 1948; he was listed as Who’s Who Among High School Students of America. He attended Kansas State University from 1948 – 1949 and later Bakersfield Junior College and Pasadena City College.

Melvin lived his early years in Holton, KS and later in California, Oregon and Colorado. He was a manager and estimator for electrical construction covering the Western United States. He worked for Fischbach and Moore in Los Angeles for 18 years and for Morrow Meadows Electrical Contractor in Los Angeles for 7 years; building large buildings including the arena for the Portland Trailblazers. He retired in Portland, Oregon in 1996 and returned to Holton, KS.

 He was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Holton, Pleasant Valley 4-H Club, 7th Degree member of Kansas State Grange, Banner Grange #1481 and the Elk Creek Turtle Club. He had attended the Circleville Methodist Church. Melvin enjoyed playing bridge, golfing and cutting and selling wood.

He married Bonita Cornelsson in 1949 and they lived west of Holton, until moving to California in 1953. Their son Misha was born while they were in Kansas, followed by David and Russell, born in California. Bonita and Melvin later divorced. He married Eleanor Vallon, they divorced; and he married Patricia Kell, they divorced.

Survivors include his 3 sons, Dr. Misha Askren (Ruth) of Los Angeles, CA, David Askren of St. Johnsbury, VT and Dr. Russell Askren (Lynn) of Salt Lake City, UT; sister, Daisy M. (Ed) Wright of Yuma, AZ; companion, Thersa Wade of Holton, KS; 7 granddaughters; 2 grandsons and 11 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Earl and Jennie Askren and a brother, Lawrence Askren.

Funeral Service will be 10:00 a.m. Saturday, May 7, 2022 at the Mercer Funeral Home in Holton. Burial will follow at the Holton Cemetery. Family will greet friends one hour prior to service time. Memorials may be given to the Holton Community Hospital Cardiovascular Unit c/o Mercer Funeral Home, P.O. Box 270, Holton, KS 66436. To leave a special message for the family, please visit www.mercerfuneralhomes.com.