Herbert Arthur Lyson

Herb was born April 5, 1932, in Minot, ND to Oscar and Veda (Nulph) Lyson and he was one of 13 siblings. He grew up in Parshall, ND and graduated from Parshall High School in 1950 where he played football, basketball and baseball.

Herb enlisted in the U.S. Navy immediately out of high school. He was stationed on the U.S.S. Bon Homme Richard during the Korean War and proudly served our country from 1951 – 1955. Herb was proud to say that he was at sea for 44 months out of 48 months served. He was honorably discharged from the U.S. Navy in 1955 where he received discharge papers informing him that he made a total $346.99 upon separation from the Navy.

Herb was also a golden gloves boxer and raced stock cars. For his first two years out of the Navy, he worked labor jobs and stressed his mother out along with the rest of the Lyson boys.

Herb attended Bottineau School of Forestry from 1957 - 1959 where he met the love of his life, Janice Jensen. They were married on August 31, 1958 and every Friday night one of their favorite things to do was go dancing. Brad was born in November of 1959 which meant they had to find a sitter to go out dancing, but it didn’t stop them from cutting a rug. In the summer of 1959, they moved to Mayville where Herb attended Mayville State Teachers College and received his teaching degree in 1961. He then taught, coached and was the working Principal of Hunter, ND K – 12 school for three years. Steve was born during this phase of Herb and Jan’s life in 1962. Herb then took the role of Superintendent of Schools in Lancaster, MN and was there for four years. During this time the summers were spent with Jan, Brad and Steve traveling with him to Greeley, CO where he received his Master’s in Business and Education from the University of Colorado Greeley. They lived on $25 a week for groceries and Herb was always disappointed when there wasn’t enough money for beer, but Jan always made sure the boys had cookies. Herb then transferred to the role of Superintendent of Schools for the Fertile – Beltrami School District in northern Minnesota where Kimberly was born in 1968. He finally retired from education in 1972.

Herb moved onto his second career and worked for New York Life based in Fertile, MN until they moved him to the St. Paul office in 1980. That is when Herb and Jan established their home in Woodbury, MN. He spent many successful years with New York Life Insurance and the Principal Financial Group. He touched so many lives in northern MN, eastern ND and the Twin Cities that the family could rarely go anywhere without Herb knowing someone and stopping to connect with them and catch up on their lives.

Herb was a man of deep faith and an active member of Woodbury Lutheran Church. In his retirement, he thrived with the role of church greeter and always remembered faces and names, it was his gift and brought him great joy.

Herb was full of life, a master storyteller and story spinner, constantly singing and playing guitar and laughing...always laughing. His brown eyes emoted warmth, love and a little mischief up until the day he took his last breath. Herb was so devoted and in love with his wife of 66 years that even after losing his memory of everyone and everything, he never forgot that Jan was “his Mrs”. You could regularly hear him say “I love you honey” and his brown eyes would soften with love.

Herb’s passion was playing golf and the hotter the weather, the more he enjoyed playing those 18 holes. The house was always full of music with Herb singing while also playing his guitar and his harmonica. He also enjoyed playing the violin, banjo, accordion, juice harp and piano. Herb loved spending time with his grandchildren, visiting and finding a connection with absolutely anyone. And, did we mention he loved to golf? His favorite retirement job was mowing grass at Eagle Valley Golf Course in Woodbury, MN. Herb was also a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion.

Herb is survived by his wife, Jan; children, Brad Lyson of Phoenix, AZ; Steve (Patty) Lyson of Welch, MN; and Kimberly (Tim) Ritzer of Edina, MN; grandchildren, Peyton and Roan Ritzer, Christy Wheeler and Rich Anderson, Jenni Miller; great grandchildren Cassidy Norenberg, Brayden Anderson, McKenzie and Brenden Miller; great - great grandchild Adelina Norenberg, Stan Lyson of Williston, ND, Gwendy Akers of Spokane, WA, and Roland (Pat) Lyson of Tempe, AZ; sister-in-law, Harriet Lyson of Midland, TX; sister-in-law, Pam Lyson of Elbow Lake, MN; along with many nieces and nephews, countless other relatives, golfing buddies and friends.

Herb was preceded in death by his parents, Oscar and Veda Lyson; in-laws, Thor and Clarice Jensen, siblings, Russell Lyson, Olivia Werlinger, Harlan Lyson, Bruce Lyson, Junior Lyson, Virginia Edwards, Perry Lyson, Nita Jager and Royal Lyson and grandsons Jason Miller and Jason Wheeler.