Funeral services for Byrine (Bye) Christian, age 77, of Albert Lea, will be at 11 a.m. Monday, May 1, at First Lutheran Church of Albert Lea. The Rev. John Holt will officiate. Interment will be in Graceland Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Bonnerup Funeral Service, Albert Lea, and one hour before the service at the church. Burial will be in Graceland Cemetery.

Bye died Thursday, April 27, 2006, at Albert Lea Medical Center of a massive aneurism.

Bye was born July 27, 1928, on a farm in Worth County, Iowa, the son of Melvin and Bertha (Larson) Christian.

He was delivered by Clara Sorenson Lah Flaten, who chose the name of Byrine.

He was baptized and confirmed at Silver Lake Lutheran Church, rural Northwood, Iowa.

He was a member of Nunda 4-H Club for many years.

He attended District 105 in Freeborn County and graduated from Emmons High School in 1947.

He was united in marriage May 2, 1948, to Joy (Means) Christian at First Lutheran Church in Albert Lea, officiated by the Rev. Melford S. Knutson.

He worked at Anderson Furniture Store (Mier Wolf), Albert Lea Co-op Creamery and retired from Farmstead (Wilson) in April of 1990.

His retirement years were filled with purchasing and refinishing antique furniture and giving a helping hand to many in need, which he did quietly and willingly.

With the help of his father, Melvin, he built the home in which they live in from 1958 to the present.

He took great pride in his home and especially the basement area where he did his woodworking projects and displayed many collections, which Bidney Bergie once described as the second Freeborn County Historical Museum.

They also enjoyed many trips with close friends.

He is survived by his wife Joy, children: daughter Amy Christian Dodd (husband Daryl) and their children Sarah (husband Mark) Moreni of Billings, Mont., Heidi (fianc Pat Heaphy) of Portland Ore., and Lindsay Dodd of Missoula, Mont., and son Greg (wife Michelle), and their children Jesse Christian (wife Julie and daughter Jaiden) of Denver, Colo.; stepchildren Mary Jo Smith and son Landon, Niki Smith and son Connor, Amy (husband Marcus) Gruber and daughter Ione; his brother Mervil (wife Betty), sisters Liala Harris and Marjorie (husband James) Emmons, and many special nieces and nephews.

Survivors also include brothers-in-law Dean Means, Laverne Wolff and James Phillips; sister-in-law, Beverly Boone; and very special brother-in-law, Frank Means, who received special love and care from Bye for the past 32 years.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Dorothy, and Ardella Dybvad; parents-in-law, Henry and Stella Means; sisters-in-laws, Donna Estebo, Mildred Wolff, and Phyllis Phillips; and brothers-in-law Emil Dybvad and Norman Harris.

Blessed by his memory.