Melbourne "Mel" Faldet was born on June 27, 1918 in Canoe, Iowa. He graduated from Decorah High School in 1936 and taught at Pleasant Township School #10 until he enlisted in 1942. Faldet served in the armed forces until 1946 and continued his career at the Northwest Bell Telephone Company until his retirement in 1983.

Mel married Virginia Baker on June 14, 1946. The couple had four children, including David Faldet and Mark Faldet, both of whom went on to have long careers at Luther College. The Faldets made their home in Decorah, where Mel was active on the Library Board and at Canoe Ridge Lutheran Church. He passed away on June 28, 2005.