Elizabeth "Betty" Byrne

Elizabeth (Betty) Byrne, 101, of St. Gabriel’s Community nursing home, Bismarck, died peacefully in her sleep on Dec. 28, 2015. Visitation will begin at 6 p.m. with a Rosary/Vigil Service beginning at 7 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 1, at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Parkway, Bismarck. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 2, at Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, 519 Raymond St, Bismarck, with Rev. Msgr. Thomas Richter officiating. Burial will be held at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Bismarck. The daughter of Charles and Ethel Foster, Elizabeth was born on June 15, 1914, in St. Paul, Minn. She graduated from Bismarck High School, Bismarck; Miss Wood’s Kindergarten and Primary Training School, Minneapolis; and Drake University, Des Moines, Iowa. Elizabeth taught kindergarten and primary grades in public schools in Rolfe, Iowa; Grand Forks, N.D.; and Des Moines before her marriage in 1939 to Joseph D. Byrne in Bismarck. For many years, Elizabeth enjoyed supporting her husband in the family business, Byrne Insurance Agency. Mr. Byrne preceded her in death in 1977. Elizabeth was a member of the Cathedral parish in Bismarck, Wednesday Mothers’ Club, Wednesday Study Club and the Missouri Valley YMCA. She substituted at Cathedral School, and also taught religion class for several years. For 15 years, Elizabeth led a Girl Scout Brownie troop, and also served on the Sakakawea Girl Scout Board. She also served on the Board of Regents of Mary College for several years, and for 15 years, on both the Board of Directors and Board of Trustees at the YMCA. As a YMCA volunteer, Elizabeth worked with registrations, and was known as an avid swimmer until 2007, having logged in over 3,300 miles in the YMCA pool. Additional loves of her life included playing bridge and traveling, but above all, pouring her life into her family. She is survived by her three daughters: Jane Beauclair, Bismarck; Anne (Thomas) Lewis, Fairbanks, Alaska; and Betsy (Kevin) Pfeifer, Bloomington, Minn.; along with six grandchildren: Camille (Chris) Harvey, Roxane (Troy) Salonen, Stewart (Änna Greiner) Lewis, Joseph Lewis, Nicholas (Maggie) Pfeifer and Christopher Pfeifer; as well as 11 great-grandchildren: Rachel (Antoine) Poitras and Hannah and Ben Harvey; Christian, Olivia, Elizabeth, Adam and Nicholas Salonen; and Hazel, Wilhelm and Shayne Lewis. Along with her husband, Joe, Elizabeth was preceded in death by her son-in-law, Robert Beauclair. The family requests memorials be sent to the Missouri Valley YMCA or the American Diabetes Association.