Ardath Elaine (Hagerman) Bye

Ardath Elaine Hagerman Bye, aged 89 years and 20 days, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Friday, February 24, 2017, at the Saint Joseph's Villa of David City, Nebraska.

Known as the quiet thinker, Elaine loved her family, reading, cross stitching, photography, painting, word search puzzles, sewing, and sports. Throughout her life, Elaine was very active in church ministries, including deaconess, teaching children, nursery, Pioneer Girls, and leading Bible studies. During the years her husband served as a pastor, she was actively involved in his ministry.

Elaine was born February 4, 1928 to Howard Frederick and Helen Mae (Watson) Hagerman, at Lakefield Township, Saginaw County, Michigan. During the Great Depression, the family moved from their farm and settled in Three Rivers, Michigan, where she graduated from Three Rivers High School in 1946. She graduated from Omaha Bible Institute in 1949 where she met her future husband. On August 4, 1950, she married Walter Odell Bye at the United Brethren Church in Seward, Nebraska. Moving to Three Rivers, Michigan, they raised their four children: Judy, Paul, Tim, and Joye. After her husband's retirement, they moved to Hastings Nebraska, where her husband served as a chaplain at Good Samaritan Village. Elaine enjoyed teaching Bible classes and spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Surviving are her daughters: Judith (Carroll) Plisek of David City, Nebraska and Joye (Daniel) Briggs of Three Rivers, Michigan; grandchildren Ryan (Kathy) Plisek, Craig Plisek, Joel (Mary) Plisek, Brendan (Stephanie) Plisek, Rachel (Luke) Harper, David (Daphne) Bye, Chelsea (Steven) Hypes, and Jennifer Briggs; 13 great-grandchildren: Dominick, Abbigail, Ashlee, Alyssa, Colby, Ellie, Gabriel, Christopher, Ethan, Lillian, Hailey, Claire, Sophie; sister Dorothy Hagerman and brother Robert Hagerman; daughter-in-law Mary Bye, as well as several nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

Elaine was preceded in death by her parents; husband Walter; sons: Paul Michael and Timothy Lee and his wife Christine Jane (Eley); siblings: Howard William Hagerman, Hattie Charlotte King, Lowell Eugene Hagerman and Betty Ann Weenink, and great-grandson Dawson Alden Plisek.