Funeral services for Evis Byre 89, of Selby, will be Thursday, April 29, 2010 at 2:00 p.m. at the Bethany Lutheran Church of Selby. Burial will be in the Bethany Lutheran Cemetery under the direction of Kesling Funeral Home of Mobridge. Visitation will be Wednesday, April 28, 2010 from Noon, with a prayer service at 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Mrs. Byre passed away Friday, 23, 2010 at St. Alexius Hospital in Bismarck, ND.



On March 14, 1921 a daughter, Evis Ruth, was born to Louis and Fredericka Ehrke Merkel at Hasting, Nebraska. At the age of one month her mother passed away southwest of Glenham. Mr and Mrs. John Merkel cared for Evis for a year and a half. When Louis married Martha Roebuck on November 22, 1922, Evis joined her father and step mother. In December 1923 a sister Idona joined the family and five years later a little brother Robert made the family complete.



In 1926 Evis started her first year of school at the Grant School four miles southwest of Glenham. After eight years attending the same school she enrolled in the Glenham High School and graduated in 1939.



Upon her graduation she decided to try and make her own living by being employed. She worked at the TasTee Bakery in Moridge. Later she worked for Ray and Lorraine Hagen on their dairy farm. She also worked for Earl and Irene Olson, Mabel Olson and the Rexall Drug store in Selby.



While attending a dance in Mobridge, Evis met Theodore (Ray) Byre and they began dating. March 10, 1942 Ray was drafted into the military service. In October 1943 while Ray was home on furlow Ray asked her to accompany him back to Willmington, Delaware and marry him. They were married at Delaware City, Delaware November 3, 1943.



After about four months of married life Ray received orders for maneuvers in Louisiana at which time Evis returned home to live with her folks. A daughter, Roberta Lee was born to them November 2, 1944. When Ray returned from the service in November 1945 the couple moved to Selby and rented an apartment. In 1948 Evis and Ray moved to the Inga and Sever Byre famly homestead in Blue Blanket community and took over farming.



A son Bobby Ray joined the family December 21, 1953 and then another son Gary Jay was born January 3, 1957 to make their family complete. Evis and Ray enjoyed visiting with their neighbors and taking their family on fishing outings.



Evis helped Ray on the farm with milking cows and by raising geese, ducks and chickens and selling eggs. She enjoyed embroidering pillow cases and quilt blocks as well as crocheting. She loved to do word find puzzles. Evis also worked at various cafes including the Berens Café, Mobil Truck Stop Café, Eagles Club and New Everts Resort.



Evis loved being with her family and especially enjoyed her grand children (Rebecca, Ryan and Rayette Casey, Cullen, Tony and Christopher Byre) and great grand children (Sebastian and Alicia Casey, Jamison Fujihara, Nolan, Trenton and Olivia Curtis, Dallas, Taylor and Brady Byre, Katie, Paityn and Brexten Fredricks.)



Evis was baptized and confirmed at Bethany Lutheran Church and was a longtime member of Bethany Church and Ladies Aid. She belonged to the DOD extension club.



Evis was called to be with her Lord on Friday, April 23, 2010 at St Alexis Hospital in Bismarck North Dakota. Thankful for having shared her life are her husband, Ray, of 66 ½ years, daughter Roberta Casey, sons Bob (Marlys) and Gary (Anne) Byre, her six grandchildren and twelve great grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister Idona (John) Wetch and many nieces and nephews.



She was preceded in death by her parents, her step-mother, her brother Bob.

Casketbearers:

Grandchildren:

Ryan Casey

Cullen Byre

Tony Byre

Chris Byre

Rebecca Curtis

Rayette Fujihara

Nephews:

Kevin Merkel

Duane Wetch



Honerary pallbearers:

All her great grandchildren, family and friends



Music by:

Pat Russell

Bernard Stulken



Readings by:

Karen Godkin

Judy Byre



Ushers:

Orval Byre

Sherwood Stulken