Mitchell Bye

Mitch Jon Bye, 61, passed away on Wednesday, June 9, 2021 at the St. Cloud Hospital. He was born October 4, 1959 in Gackle, ND, the third son and fourth child of Al and Lu Bye.

Mitch attended Gackle High School and was very active in all sports. Though not very tall, Mitch helped lead his high school basketball team to a district championship and regional tournament his junior year.

After graduating from high school in 1977, Mitch spent time working for Gackle Electric. At the urging of his boss/mentor, he went on to get his degree from Minnesota Technical College Duluth. He eventually earned his journeyman’s license and had a successful career as a residential/commercial electrician in Grafton, ND, Denver, CO, Brainerd, MN, and Seattle, WA.

As a teenager Mitch developed Type 1 diabetes, but he never let the disease slow him down. He was always on the go and always ready to help out family and friends. In June of 2002 Mitch received the life-giving gift of a kidney/pancreas transplant. From that point he was a thankful advocate for his medical team and strongly urged everyone to become an organ donor so that others like him could live a better life.

In 2010, at the urging of his Uncle Don, Mitch move to the family farm in Pequot Lakes, MN. He lived in the house that was formerly the parsonage for Our Saviors Lutheran Church. There was quite a turnout to watch the home make the 4-mile trek from Pequot Lakes to the family farmstead. It was natural that Mitch would become an active member of the congregation.

Mitch was preceded in death by his parents, Al Jr. and Lu Bye; grandparents, Albert and Nora Bye; grandparents, Gust and Alice Schimming; his aunt, Meg Bye; cousin, Jerry Bye; and his special cousin, Raa Bye. He is survived by his brothers, Mike (Sue) Bye, Tenino, WA, and Joel "Skip" (Lori) Bye, Fargo, ND; and his sister, Cindy (Ken) Vik, Hettinger, ND. He is also survived by his “Pequot” family: uncle, Don (Dianna) Bye; cousin, Dan (Vanessa) Bye; cousin, Karen Bye; and many nieces and nephews.

Memorial Services for Mitch will be held at Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Pequot Lakes on Friday, August 27th at 11:00 AM. In lieu of flowers the family asks that memorial gifts may be made to Our Saviors Lutheran Church or to the American Diabetes Association.