James Bye, 74, Albert Lea

Published 1:25 pm Saturday, April 21, 2012

Memorial services for James “Jim” Edward Bye formerly of rural Emmons, will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 28, 2012, at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Kiester. The Rev. Katie Pals will officiate. Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at the Bonnerup Funeral Service in Albert Lea and one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will be in the Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Mansfield Township. James died on Wednesday, April 18, 2012, at the Albert Lea Good Samaritan Society. He was 74 years of age.

James was born March 20, 1938, in Lake Mills, Iowa, the son of James Orlando and Zella (Stuart) Bye. He graduated from Kiester High School, attended Mankato State University and the University of Wisconsin in River Falls, Wis.

James Bye

James was united in marriage to Carol Ann Christianson on Nov. 3, 1957, at the Grace Lutheran Church in Albert Lea. Together they farmed the family dairy farm in the Kiester area for over 40 years. After retirement on the farm, Jim worked for the National Farmers Organization for 10 years.

Jim was a very active member of the Zion Lutheran church and Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Kiester where he served as council president and was on the cemetery board. He was baptized at the Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Scarville, Iowa, and confirmed at the Zion Lutheran Church in Mansfield Township.

James was a regional director for the National Farmers Organization, member of the Eagles Club and very active in the Freeborn County DFL.

The love of his life was his wife Carol and spending time with the kids, grandkids, family and friends. He enjoyed bowling, reading, travel (especially his trip to the Yukon), and sporting events (including his trip to the super bowl and world series).

James is survived by his mother Zella Bye of Kiester, children; Beth and her husband Randy Aukes of Kiester, Dan and his wife Arvilla Bye of Geneva, and Dr. Nathan and his wife Lisa Bye of Osage, Iowa. Grandchildren include; Brandon (Erin) Aukes, Mallory (Taylor Herman) Aukes, Jaymie (Matt) Carolan, Amber (Randy) Halvorsen, Brady (Sara) Bye, Ethan Bye, Melanie Bye, Tanya Anderson and Chris Anderson. There are nine great-grandchildren, two brothers; David (Judy) Bye of Plainview, Texas, Ray (Heather) Bye of Huntley, Ill., sister; Susan (Marvin) Bernau, Emmons, mother in law; Bonnie Linder of Albert Lea, brother in law; Roger (Jane Henderson) Christianson of St. Paul, numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Jim was preceded in death by his father J. Orlando Bye, wife Carol in 2010 and father-in-law Howard Christianson.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Kiester.