John Collins, 50, of Mellette, SD, died Tuesday, December 20, 2011 at Specialty Care Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, December 27, 2011 at Northwestern United Methodist Church in Mellette. Reverend Jon Damaska will officiate.

Burial will be in the Mellette Cemetery.

Visitation will be Monday, December 26, 2011 from 1-8:00 p.m. with the family present from 5-7:00 p.m. at Thelen Funeral Home, Redfield, SD. (www.thelenfuneralhome.com)

John Cady Collins was born on March 26, 1961 in Aberdeen to John (Ted) and Jean (Cady) Collins of Mellette. He graduated from Northwestern High School in 1979 and attended Lake Area Vo -Tech school in Watertown. John founded James Valley Companies in 1983 which he owned at the time of his death. John was a gifted innovator and produced numerous products for James Valley Companies including James Valley Scents, pet treats and Big Johns Ole West barbeque sauce with sales worldwide. John was an avid outdoorsmen beginning trapping at the age of 9. John traveled the world including numerous safaris to Africa on big game hunts. He loved to fish and catch small mouth bass and walleyes. He especially enjoyed trips to do product development and research on property he owned in Kansas. He was a member of numerous conservation organizations and enjoyed planting food plots and trees for wildlife.

John is survived by one sister, Carol Lynn Ryan of The Hague, Netherlands, four nieces and nephews.


He was preceded in death by his parents and one sister Margo.