Mel Hartsoch, age 74, passed away peacefully on September 14, 2026, surrounded by his loving family.
Mel was born on October 23rd, 1951, in Kalispell, Montana, to Melford and Frances Hartsoch. His family, including his sisters Denise and Patsy, grew up in Spokane and Quincy, Washington, in his early childhood years. Just before his freshmen year, the family relocated to Los Banos, California, where his father worked on building the San Luis Reservoir dam. To old-time locals, Mel, his family and other families moving into town for the project were known as the “dam people.”
It was at Los Banos High School that Mel met the love of his life, Kim Minghetti. A standout athlete and student, Mel graduated in 1970 and moved to Stockton to attend the University of the Pacific’s pharmacy school. While there, his athletic talent caught the eye of then-UOP assistant coach Pete Carroll, who personally approached Mel in his dorm to play football—though Mel ultimately failed the physical due to blindness in his left eye.
Undeterred, Mel spent his college years driving back and forth between Stockton and Los Banos to court Kim. During these visits, Kim’s father, John, converted Mel from a Los Angeles Rams fan into a die-hard San Francisco 49ers fan, sparking a passion that led to Mel holding 49ers season tickets for over 40 years.
Mel and Kim married on October 12, 1974, and later welcomed their children, Ryan and Morgan. In 1981, Mel began working at the Los Banos Drug Store, spending the next several decades serving the town as a trusted pharmacist and eventually the store’s owner. While generations of locals knew him from the drug store (at least from the waist up), Mel was also a cornerstone of St. Joseph Catholic Church, where he and Kim served as Eucharistic ministers and readers. Following his retirement from pharmacy, he continued his love for community service by working at Sorenson’s Ace Hardware. You could also find him roaming the sidelines of Loftin Stadium on Friday nights as a part of the chain gang at Los Banos High School football games.
Mel was a man of many talents, enjoying gardening and woodworking, with a particular talent for carving Santas. However, his greatest joy in life was his grandchildren. He never turned down an opportunity to spend time with them. Mel will be remembered as a kind, loving, and devoted husband, father, grandfather, community pillar, and friend. He was taken too soon and will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him.
Mel is survived by his beloved wife of nearly 52 years, Kim; his children, Ryan and Morgan; his cherished grandchildren, Allison, Grant, Dylan, Mia, and Miles; and his sister, Patsy. He was preceded in death by his parents, Melford and Frances, and his sister, Denise.
Services will be held Mon., Oct. 5, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Los Banos, with a Rosary at 12:30 p.m. followed by a Mass of the Resurrection at 1 p.m.
Reception to follow at the Delta Party Barn.
