Lyle G. Dykhoff

Lyle George Dykhoff went home to his heavenly Father on Thursday, May 14, 2020, after a short, but heroic battle with cancer.

Lyle was the 5^th child born to Frank and Pauline (VanSteenvoort) Dykhoff on December 3, 1925 at Devils Lake ND.  He grew up on the family farm near Crary and attended school at Crary, Bartlett, and Doyon ND. 

Lyle married Marion Horysch on June 28, 1947. They were the very proud parents of Gary David, their only child. They made their home in Lakota ND, where Lyle was postmaster for many years.  He was active in the Lakota American Legion and was a life member of the Lakota VFW Honor Guard/Firing Squad, performing many 21 gun salutes.  For many years, he was a Boy Scout leader and loved taking the boys on camping and fishing trips.  Lyle was a member of St. Joseph Church and the Knights of Columbus. 

After retirement from the Post Office, they built a home on the lake at Devils Lake where he spent many hours fishing with friends. Lyle was an avid deer hunter and always looked forward to deer season.  He loved family reunions and had a special fondness for all his little nephews and nieces, teaching many of them the fine art of fishing, although he always caught the most fish. 

Lyle enlisted in the United States Army at age 18, following his two older brothers into the service and proudly served his country during World War II. He served with the Company A 503^rd Paratrooper Infantry as a Demolition Specialist.  He earned the Bronze Star as part of a regiment that fought for the Negros Island in the South Pacific.  He was called back into service during the Korean War.  He earned another Bronze Star for pulling some 50 Koreans from the mountains of Korea in the most frigid and deadly weather encountered by US Forces.  While moving ammunition in Korea, he was injured in a munitions truck accident, breaking his back.  He proudly wore his cap proclaiming he was a veteran of World War II and Korea. 

Lyle suffered his greatest loss with the death of Marion in 1990 and his son Gary in 1992. He leaves behind his sisters and brothers-in-law Doris and Don Mueller of Devils Lake, Carol and Dave Coyer of Roberts WI and Melvin “Babe” Kunkel, Devils Lake and many beloved nieces and nephews. 

He was preceded in death by his wife, son, parents, brothers Carl, Laurence, and Louis, sisters Isabel Rafferty, Esther Falk, Therese Woolsey and Julie Kunkel. An exceptional man and true hero, we will miss him in our lives. 

The family requests in lieu of flowers that memorials be sent to St. Joseph School and Chapel Fund in memory of Lyle.

Mass of Christian Burial for Lyle will be held on Tuesday, May 19, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Devils Lake with the Very Reverend C.F. Wilhelm celebrating the Mass. The Rosary will be recited at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday.  Visitation will be at St. Joseph Catholic Church on Tuesday beginning at 8:30 a.m. until time of the funeral Mass. Burial will be at the Lakota Cemetery on Tuesday, May 19^th at 1:15 p.m. with Military Honors.