Tyson C. Hodge

Tyson C. Hodge, 47, of Mead, Colorado, passed away unexpectedly during his beloved annual motorcycle ride. As always, he was on a great adventure to experience all the wonders the outdoors has to offer.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at 11:00 AM, Thursday, Aug. 1, at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Pkwy, Bismarck. 

From birth, Tyson seemed too big for this world to contain. Born on March 3, 1977, in Spokane, Washington, to Ronald and Connie Hodge, he was the second biggest baby born in Washington state at that time, weighing a whopping 13 pounds! A happy baby who rarely cried and smiled broadly and often, Tyson’s easygoing personality continued to take shape in his toddler years. All it took to keep Tyson happy was Kraft mac and cheese, green beans, and hot dogs.

When Tyson was four years old, the family moved to Bismarck, ND, where he attended Solheim Elementary, Wachter Jr. High, and Bismarck High, graduating in 1995. It was during these years that he cultivated his love of sports and the outdoors, playing hocking and jet skiing and wakeboarding on the Missouri River with family and friends. With an easygoing manner and a great sense of humor, Tyson had a large circle of friends. Crystal and Mike Nuemann, Jaime Fitterer, and Brad Bentley created memories with Tyson that he cherished throughout his life. 

Tyson cultivated more close friendships while pursuing his finance degree at the University of Colorado at Boulder (Café, Fat Head, Knutson, Evan, Terry), including his treasured four-legged friend, Kota. He traveled the world through Semester at Sea, where he nearly got stuck on a mountain in Indonesia while chasing his newest love — snowboarding. After graduation, Tyson’s free spirit and love of adventure led him to Truckie, CA to chase fresh powder.

Tyson’s easygoing nature was balanced by his deeply-felt desire to help others. He spent time in Newport Beach, CA, assisting his maternal grandmother, and returned to Colorado to assist his father with business affairs. He ultimately assumed responsibility for the family pharmacy after his father, Ronald, became ill with cancer. When Ronald’s condition deteriorated, Tyson moved back to Bismarck to help his sister, Tiffany, care for their ailing father. 

During this time of heartache, a blessing arrived in the form of Tyson’s twin girls, Selia and Elora, who changed his life irrevocably and introduced him to all the joys and difficulties of fatherhood — times two! He also met his partner, Michelle Reis, during this time. Together they navigated the sorrows and tragedies of loss and the happiness and hope of new life. To be closer to the twins, Tyson and Michelle moved back to Colorado, eventually settling in Mead.

Additional blessings found Tyson and Michelle in Mead with the births of Korbin with Koral. Tyson adored his family above all else and wanted to give his children the opportunity to experience the world from a young age. He took them on many adventures, great and small, including annual trips to Flathead Lake, Montana where he could brush up on his wakeboarding skills. As the kids grew older, they also took to the water, instituting yearly “triathlon” competitions.

With an unforgettable laugh and a room-brightening smile, Tyson’s heart was big enough to accommodate many loves, first and foremost being for his family and friends. His greatest joys outside of family and friends were adventures in his beloved mountains, rivers, and lakes; enjoying live music and sharing that love with his children; motorcycle rides on his cherished Harley; exploring new and uncharted landscapes; and last, but not least, watching America’s Funniest Home Videos on Sunday nights. Tyson was fond of saying that an epic day for him was morning hockey, afternoon snowboarding, and spending the night experiencing a concert at Red Rocks with family and friends

Tyson is survived his mother, Connie Hodge, his sister, Tiffany Hodge, his niece Lakelyn Hodge, his twin girls Selia Hockhalter and Elora Hockhalter, his partner/wife Michelle Reis, his children Korbin and Koral Hodge, his Aunt Syrina Moore, his uncle Gary Hodge, his uncle Gary Clark, numerous cousins, and many friends and relatives.

He was preceded in death by his father, Ron Hodge (Cetan Duta “Red Hawk”), his grandparents Carol and OJ Miller, grandfather Phil Clark, grandparents Mary and Gerville Hodge, Aunt Diana Trundle/Sid Trundle, Aunt Elaine Foley/Jerry Foley, and Aunt Leona Volk/Len Volk.