Boyd was the beloved older brother of Dean and Donna and spent his formative years working on the family farm. He graduated from Exeter High School before trying out various jobs, among his favorite was working as a butcher.
In 1943, Boyd answered the call to serve his country and was drafted into World War II. He served in the anti-aircraft section, ably constructing makeshift runways for planes on the beach. One of his proudest moments was his company greeting General MacArthur upon his return to the Philippines. On his trip home after the war, he enjoyed a Christmas dinner at sea, crossed the international dateline, whereupon he enjoyed a second Christmas dinner.
After his honorable discharge from the Army, he joined his family now in Northern Colorado where Boyd enjoyed playing baseball and billiards, working on the family farm, and reading lots of magazines.
Boyd met his wife, Lillian Timm at a Grover, CO rodeo dance in 1948 and their love blossomed. They were married February 12th the following year.
After the birth of their son, Ron, and their daughter, DeAnn, Boyd and Lillian settled in the small town of Grover, CO. They ran the local grocery store and lived above. It was in Grover that Boyd first became actively involved with the Lions Club, an organization he would proudly support the rest of his life. His commitment to service was eventually recognized with the Melvin Jones Fellowship Award.
In 1973, Boyd and Lillian moved to La Salle, CO, where he worked for the local school district in an administrative position in charge of food services, maintenance, and transportation. Later, he transitioned to driving buses and serving as a custodian. He retired from the school district in 1989, but that did not slow him down. In 1991, he and Lillian started working at the county elections department. There they worked alongside each other for another 18 years.
Boyd will be remembered as an avid golfer, capable gardener, canny player of cards, beloved husband, loving father and grandfather, and loyal friend. He is preceded in death by his parents, Raymond Nelson and Mabel (Hyatt) Bivens, brother, Dean (Betty) Bivens, sister, Donna (Duane) Vavra, and his son, Ron Bivens. He is survived by his wife, Lillian, daughter, DeAnn (Rick) Bryson, grandsons; Timm (Carly) Bryson and Beau (Margaret Tufo) Bryson, and great-grandchildren; Caroline, Quinn, Clark, Michael, and Lucy Bryson.
The memorial service to celebrate Boyd's life will be held at Stoddard Funeral Home, 3205 West 28th Street, Greeley, Colorado, on Wednesday, October 11, 2023 at 2:00 pm.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in Boyd's memory may be made to LaSalle Lions Club, In Care Of LaSalle Community Church- Family Life Center, 102 S. Walnut Street, LaSalle, Colorado 80645; and High Plains Honor Flight, PO Box 363, Ault, Colorado 80610, www.highplainshonorflight.org.
