MICHAEL E. HUYGE

Michael E. Huyge, 72 of Devils Lake formerly of Minot, ND and Grand Rapids, Michigan passed away at his home on Friday, March 16th, 2012 in the loving care of family and Mercy Hospice. A time of remembrance and celebrating Mike’s life will be held at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake on Saturday, March 24, 2012 from 1:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. with Military Honors at 2:00 p.m. Military Honors will be accorded by the Neathery-Simensen Post #756, Devils Lake Veterans of Foreign Wars. Honorary Bearers are all of Mike’s many dear and valued friends. Michael Edward was born on July 1, 1939 at Grand Rapids, Michigan the son of Frank and Alberta (Ring) Huyge. He was reared and educated in Grand Rapids, attending Madison Elementary and South High. On August 7, 1956, at the age of 17, Mike enlisted in the United States Air Force. Mike would make the Air Force a career for almost 22 years. His basic training was at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas and he received training as a Ground and Intercept Radio Specialist Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi and served in that capacity at Elmendorf Air Force Base in Alaska and also at the Minot Air Force Base. Mike also served at the Goodfellow Air Force Base, San Angelo, Texas, Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines, Korat, Thailand and Da Nang, Vietnam. As the Vietnam War continued, Mike was trained as an In-flight Air Refueling Specialist at various bases in California and began flying many refueling missions over Vietnam while again stationed at Clark. When the Vietnam War ended, Mike returned to the Minot Base and received his honorable discharge on July 31st, 1977 with the rank of Technical Sergeant and the recipient of several medals of commendation and outstanding service to his country. Mike always spoke of how much he enjoyed flying and being a part of the Air Force. Mike was married to Phyllis Lushenko in 1960 and they were the proud parents of Scott, Debra and Stanley. Of course Mike wasn’t ready to retire so he began working for the United States Postal Service, working in Minot for seven years and then in 1987 began as a rural mail carrier out of Devils Lake Post Office for fourteen years. Mike was united in marriage to Sandra Abrahamson Lang on May 1, 1993. They established their home in Devils Lake where they lived and worked through the years. At the time of his death Mike had been employed with LaFleur and Sons for the past eleven years. He enjoyed the traveling involved and the people he met on his routes. Despite the fact that he never officially retired, Mike did enjoy several pastimes. He enjoyed deer and goose hunting and spending time “tinkering” in his shop. He was an avid reader and had a passion for fishing, both summer and winter. To keep on top of the fishing hot spots, Mike made daily visits to Ed’s Bait Shop. Mike was a member of the Eagles Lodge. Mike believed in the balance of work and play and the importance of family and friends in both. Mike is survived by his wife, Sandy; his sons and daughters-in-law Scott and Gail Huyge of Atlanta, GA and Stanley and Becky Huyge of Colorado Springs, CO; daughter and son-in-law Debra and Ron Reber of Oklahoma City, OK; six grandchildren; step daughters Jacqueline Lang of Fargo, and Kristie (Dan) Nigg of Sisseton, South Dakota; brother and sister-in-law Stephen and Bev Huyge of Howard City, MI; sister-in-law Donna Huyge of Grand Rapids, Michigan; several nieces, nephews and cousins. Mike was preceded in death by his parents and brother Robert Huyge.