Mildred C. Bye

Mildred C. Bye, age 90, of Gayville, South Dakota, died on Thursday, October 18, 2018 at Wakonda Heritage Manor in Wakonda, South Dakota. Memorial services are 10:30 AM, on Tuesday, October 23, 2018 at Gayville Lutheran Church in Gayville with Pastors Ben and Kristen Eisele officiating. Burial will be in the Gayville Cemetery. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the memorial service at the church. Arrangements are under the direction of the Wintz & Ray Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Yankton, South Dakota. Mildred was born October 21, 1927 in Scotland, South Dakota to Oscar and Nellie (Bjorum) Helgerson. She grew up in the Mission Hill area and graduated from Yankton High School. After graduation, Mildred went to Augusta College in Sioux Falls and then taught country school for a year and a half. She married Gerald “Bud” Bye on June 13, 1948 at Vangen Lutheran Church in Mission Hill. After the marriage, they lived in Gayville and farmed with Bud’s parents. On March 4, 1949, they welcomed a son, Van G. Bye. In the early 1950’s, Bud bought a trucking business from Fred Olson and he hauled livestock, hay and grain for area farmers. In 1967, they moved to Anaheim, CA and Bud worked for Anaheim Union School District, while Mildred worked at Home Savings Bank and then for school district in Regional Occupational Therapy. After they retired, they moved to Canyon Lake, CA where they lived for 25 years. Their son passed away on February 28, 2013 and a year later, they moved back to Gayville to be closer to family. Their house in Gayville was across the street from where they lived when they left for California in 1967. Mildred is survived by two grandsons, Brett (Janelle) Bye of Mesa, AZ and Cory (Katie) Bye of Port Beach, CA; two great grandsons, Jet and Hunter Bye; daughter-in-law, Carol Prough of Sedona, AZ; and many nieces and nephews. Mildred was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Gerald “Bud” Bye on October 1, 2017; son, Van Bye; two brothers, Delmar and Dale Helgerson; and one sister, Marilyn Ronken. To send an online message to the family, please visit www.wintzrayfuneralhome.com.