Nancy Rae Byrum passed away on the evening of May 31, 2024, at Cooney Intensive Care Facility in Helena, Montana after saying “goodbye, I love you” to her loving husband. She was born on March 24, 1932, in San Diego, California. She has suffered and fought valiantly against lung disease and heart condition for several years.
Nancy grew up in East San Diego and was considered a “Tom Boy,” climbing trees and playing kickball in the street with her neighborhood pals. She attended Hoover High School and later San Diego State College where she obtained a Batchlor of Arts degree in Home Economics and continued to obtain a Master of Arts degree.
On May 10, 1951, she married her lifelong love, Bob Byrum, and they spent 73 wonderful years together. She taught high school for twenty-five years before a well-deserved retirement.
Nancy had many interests. She loved to cook and travel the world with her Bob. They visited many countries including China, Germany, England, France, The Netherlands, New Zealand and Mexico where they had a second home for thirty years. After moving to Montana in 1990, she fell in love with its beauty and her home on a mountainside with many pine trees, beautiful sunrises and sunsets and wildlife.
With their Labrador Retrievers, they traveled throughout the country competing in AKC dog trials. In all these years, she was always positive, never complaining, loved people and people loved her. Nancy was never discouraged and always looked on the bright side of life.
Nancy was preceded in death by her parents Ray and Sally (Dossey) Hahs younger sister Carol and too many dear friends. Her parents died while she was in her twenties. Nancy and Bob both desired to be cremated, and their remains will be interned on their lovely property among the pines. A Blue Spruce tree will be placed as a forever living monument.
A memorial service celebrating Nancy’s life will take place at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, June 21st at Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home, 3750 N. Montana Ave. Please, no donations except if you wish to donate to the Helena Humane Society in her name. She would appreciate that.
Service Schedule
Memorial Service
4:00 p.m.
Friday June 21, 2024
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N. Montana Ave
Helena, Montana 59602
Service Schedule
Memorial Service
4:00 p.m.
Friday June 21, 2024
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N. Montana Ave
Helena, Montana 59602
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Phyllis Snyder says
Bob we’re so sorry to hear about Nancy. Such a sweet and wonderful person. We have a lot of fond memories of our time together. Love Phyllis, Terry, Mike and Kathy. This is my phone number if you’d like to talk anytime. 610-823-4680. I’d love to hear from you.
Karen Paul says
My mom was one of a kind. She was a great mom and a great cook. A great teacher. She taught me how to sew and how to cook. She was always available when I needed her. I remember the weekends that we had just her and I, and Dad to go off hunting, and it was just her and I. We’d make macaroni and cheese or we’d go down to Boll Weevils and eat or McDonald’s (when they first came out with quarter pounders), I remember how thrilled she was when she got to see her grandson for the first time” 10 fingers and 10 little toes.” Mom was great. She was a wonderful grandma too…