Regina "Jean" Byrd

In March of 1916 the family packed their belongings and moved from their farm in South Dakota, by way of the Milwaukee Railroad to Mildred, Montana. They brought with them six horses, ten cows, and their machinery and tools. With the help of friends they set up a home and began farming near Marsh, Montana, where two more of Regina’s siblings were born.

In September of 1919 land was purchased seven miles northeast of Mildred where the family relocated to develop the prairie land and where they would grow wheat, oats, and establishing a self-sufficient farm, run with the help of their horse-drawn equipment.Four more children were born, bringing the total to five girls; Naome, Regina, Herlanda, Eva, and Ruth, in addition to four boys – Bertholt, Reuben, Otto and Raymond. Aside from the hard work of tending and running a self-sufficient farm, there was a lot of love and happiness. A schoolhouse was established near the farm that was attended by all of the Buechler children, and those from neighboring farms. It was also there that Regina completed her education through the eighth grade.

In her teens Regina worked as a cook and housekeeper in various homes in nearby Terry, and Miles City, Montana. In the summers of 1936 and 1937, Regina and her sister Herlanda, worked at the Richel Lodge Dude Ranch near Red Lodge, Montana, as cooks and housekeepers. Regina often talked about the long days and hard work associated with that, and also the fun of going into town on a Friday and Saturday evening to dance the night away.

It was on a trip to visit to relatives in Lodi, California where Regina met John Fode, whom she married on September 3, 1941 in Yuma, Arizona. John and Regina moved to San Diego, California where Regina worked as a cook and housekeeper, in addition to working in an aerospace factory manufacturing planes until the end of WWII.

Later, John & Regina moved to Yakima, Washington where they bought property with a house and a number of small cabins. Having already had a strong work ethic instilled in her at a young age, Regina was never one to be idle. She worked at many of the local canneries and packinghouses, as well as a clerk in a local drugstore. After many years of marriage, John and Regina divorced.

In 1965, Regina met and married George Byrd, and they moved to Seattle, Washington where they bought a home in the Lake City area. In Seattle, Regina spent a bit of time working at a local cannery, and as a clerk at the Bon Marche before taking up housekeeping work for a number of local families. Regina’s effervescent personality endeared her to the many families she spent time with, and many became dear friends.

Having no children of her own, Regina “adopted” those of the families she worked for, in addition to the neighborhood children. Regina was respected and loved by them all, and many of those relationships continued into her final years. Her generosity and love also extended to her many nieces and nephews, and “Aunt Jean” was a greatly loved family member.

Regina was active in the Lake City Presbyterian Church in assisting and serving others for many years. With her sister Ruth, she also traveled extensively, visiting Hawaii, taking the fall foliage tour in New England, and cruising the Caribbean.

It is amazing to ponder all of the changes that Regina saw in her lifetime, and it was a true blessing that she always faced them with charm, grace, dignity, and love until her passing, at 101 years of age.

Regina has left a great deal of family and dear friends to cherish her loving memory.