Susan Bye Elyea

Susan Bye Elyea died unexpectedly as a result of a car crash in early April. Susan was born in Red Top and grew up in McGrath where she enjoyed 4-H, life on the farm and learning. Susan moved to Minneapolis after graduation and later met Arthur W Bye. They lived in Minneapolis, Rockford and settled in Monticello with their daughters, where she lived over 30 yrs. Susan taught at Robbinsdale-Cooper High School and loved her job, she was active in the union, and voted “Favorite Teacher” 21 times in her career.  Susan was active in 4-H as an adult, loved gardening and reading. She perused several newspapers a day and a collection of magazines and books. When Arthur passed away Susan spent a great deal of time in Backus where they had a lake home. She met Leo on a Christmas Eve up there and he was the best gift ever. She made many Christmas Eve dinners at the lake after that, inviting friends and families in to share. She baked Christmas cookie tins for people in the area for years, one year she baked 36 varieties for Leo to distribute in the community

Together they entertained friends and family at the lake for decades, attended WeFest many years, traveled and participated in the American Legion clubs and Auxiliary in their community. She thoroughly enjoyed her friends and activities they shared. She loved her Canadian kids & community.  In recent years they planned and promoted a golf tournament to raise funds for 4-Hers to attend the State Fair with their projects. She loved the fair and still exhibited in open class.

Susan loved to cook and bake. Susan loved to fish, garden, read and an affinity for Dancing with the Stars. Their company found her at the table looking over the newspaper letting them know breakfast would be ready soon.  She enjoyed feeding feral cats in Alabama, birds and squirrels on the deck and took special care taking buckets of corn to the shoreline for swans who had taken up residence on the area lakes. She enjoyed updates from the farm on new babies and activities, learning new things and always had an opinion. She felt laughter was a  gift and its own music, and had a sharp sense of humor.

Susan was preceded in death by her parents, Carl and Rachel Peterson; brothers and their spouses John and Patsy Peterson, Douglas and Marilynn Peterson; son-in-law, Peter Hausauer; husband, Arthur W Bye. Her husband of 31 yrs., Leo Elyea passed away shortly after she died. She leaves behind a beloved collection of family and friends celebrating her life and mourning her loss, including Billy Cat and two hungry swans among others.

Celebration of life for Leo and Susan will be May 22,2022 at 1:00 pm at the Church of the Nazarene in Backus. Internment at the Backus Cemetery with military honors, lunch at the Backus Legion. Memorials can be sent to the Backus or Hackensack Legion and will be used to support their passions within the communities.