JOYCE ANN BYE

Joyce A. Bye, 60 of Devils Lake passed away on Sunday evening, March 4, 2012 at the Lakota Good Samaritan Center, Lakota, ND, where she had been a resident since April of 2011. Funeral Services for Joyce will be held on Saturday, March 10, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. at the Robert Fawcett Auditorium at Lake Region State College, Devils Lake. Rev. Jamie Desai will officiate and burial will be in the Devils Lake Cemetery. Visitation will be held at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake on Friday from 2:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. with the family present from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. Visitation on Saturday will be at the college one hour prior to the funeral service. The family requests memorials be directed to the Devils Lake Public Schools Foundation or the North Dakota Alzheimer’s Association. (Envelopes available at the funeral home) Special Music will be provided by Jason Flom. Reading the Scriptures will be Betty Bye and Dr. Steven Swiontek and a special tribute will be presented by Zayda Mae Bergh. Joyce Ann, the daughter of Edward T. and Adeline Mae (Anderson) Larson was born on July 22, 1951 at Devils Lake. The family made their home in the St. Michael area. Joyce attended elementary school at St. Michael, and graduated from St. Mary’s Academy with the class of 1969. She continued her education at Lake Region Junior College and Minot Teacher Corp and graduated with a degree in elementary education from UND in 1973. Joyce was united in marriage to Robert L. Bye on August 9, 1975 at St. Michael. They established their home in Devils Lake where they lived, worked and raised their children. Joyce taught Kindergarten through third grade but most of her thirty one years in education were spent as the kindergarten teacher, teaching at St. Michael Tribal School, Four Winds and the Devils Lake Public Schools. Joyce retired in 2006. This early retirement was a result of the diagnosis of frontal lobe dementia and then the development of younger onset Alzheimers Disease, devastating diseases both mentally and physically. Joyce first and foremost was a devoted wife and mother. She loved teaching and each student was very special to her. But when it was “Joyce time” she loved shopping, dancing, Bingo and traveling. Joyce was a member of Our Saviors Lutheran Church and the North Dakota Education Association. Joyce is survived by her loving family. Her husband Robert of Devils Lake; son Erek R. Bye of Fargo and his significant other, Amanda Robinette; granddaughter Zayda Mae Bergh also of Fargo and grandson Ethyn Bradley Bye of West Fargo; sisters and brothers Linda (Wayne) Fee, Bradley (Jeri) Larson, Ramona (Bill) Smythe, Jodie Borgen, Claudette Larson, Loren Larson all of Devils Lake and Ricky (Laurie) Larson of Larimore, ND; father-in-law and mother-in-law Richard and Betty Bye of Hamar, ND; brothers-in-law and sister-in-law David (Linda) Bye of Fredricksburg, Virginia, Russell (Jody) Bye of Tolna, ND and Diana (Marlo) Tweed also of Tolna; many nieces, nephews and cousins and special little girls, Taylee and Chynna Cavanaugh. Joyce was preceded in death by her daughter Erin, parents and brother Mark Larson. As Joyce’s family, we want to thank the special caregivers, Daril Rainesalo, Donna Brokke, Marlene Hanson and Loren Larson and the staff of the Lakota Good Samaritan Center for all of their loving care, concern and dedication throughout this long journey. God bless you all.