Arlene Byre
Jan. 23, 1940-Dec. 31, 2020
Arlene Byre, 80, died
on December 31, 2020, in
Edgewood Vista assisted
living. Arlene Joy Mahlen
was born on January 23,
1940 to Mabel (Vannatta)
and Joel Mahlen in Glas-
gow, Mt. She moved with
her family to Bainville,
MT, where she grew up
with her five siblings.
She met the love of her
life, Archie “Kennard”
Byre at the train depot in
Bainville as she was leav-
ing for college. After a
whirlwind courtship they
were married on Sep-
tember 24, 1959. They
lived in many locations
following Kennard’s rail-
road career before settling
in Maxbass, ND, where
they raised their family on
the farm north of town.
Arlene was a stay at home
wife, her days spent mak-
ing homemade bread,
cooking and caring for her
five children. She was
happiest sitting at her
kitchen table enjoying a
cup of coffee with family
and friends or playing the
piano and singing. Ar-
lene was diagnosed with
brittle diabetes at a young
age and throughout her
many challenges was so
cheerful and full of faith
no matter what she en-
countered. She had a
great sense of humor and
many pictures captured
her laughing.
After Kennard’s retire-
ment they spent their
winters traveling south to
Deming, NM, and later to
Yuma, AZ, and their sum-
mers in North Dakota.
They were fortunate to
travel to Norway, and
took many trips with her
sisters in law Ruthie
Rauschenberger and
Evelyn Rauschenberger.
Kennard and Arlene were
blessed with 56 years to-
gether before he passed
away on May 1 of 2016.
In her later years she
lived in Edgewood Vista
assisted living facility
where she had loving
friends and family. Our
thanks to all of the staff
there including the
Memory care area for
their loving care of Mom
in her final years. Your
genuine love and affection
for Mom is appreciated.
Arlene was a member of
St Patrick’s Catholic
Church in Maxbass and
later of St Jerome’s
Catholic Church in
Mohall, ND. She was a
woman of great faith with
a deep love and devotion
for the Holy Rosary which
she prayed daily.
Arlene is survived by
her daughter Belinda
(Mark) Vollmer of Minot:
her sons, Archie Byre Jr.
of Maxbass, Royal (Renae)
Byre of Burlington, ND,
Everett (MiSuk) Byre of
Lewisville, TX and Eric
(Kimberly) Byre of
Stephen, MN. She had 16
grandchildren, and 7 great
grandchildren. She is
survived by her siblings
Eunice Neshem, Joann
(Paul) Picard, Donna (Gib)
Elkins and Joe (Melody)
Mahlen, sisters in law
Eileen Mahlen and Mar-
lene (Dick) Muse and
brothers in law Ronald
(Karen) Byre and Gordon
Braaten; and many nieces,
nephews and cousins.
She is preceded in
death by her husband
Kennard; parents; brother
Ralph; brother in law
Gerald Neshem; parents
in law; Byre family
members Ruthie and Leo-
nard Rauschenberger,
Evelyn and Bill Rauschen-
berger, Phyllis Braaten,
Jenny and Andy Eshenko,
and Walter Hagen.
Mass of Christian
Burial: Tuesday, January
5, 2021, at 10:30 at Our
Lady of Grace Catholic
Church, Minot.
Visitation: Monday,
January 4, 2021, from
3:00 p.m. to 5:00p.m. at
Thompson-Larson Fun-
eral Home, Minot.
The service will be
livestreamed for the pub-
lic to view and can be ac-
cessed by going to
Those wishing to sign
an online guest register,
go to www.thompson
larson.com