Cyrus L. Beye

Cyrus L. Beye, MD, age 90, of Yankton, South Dakota formerly of Sioux City, passed away on Tuesday, January 14, 2014 at Avera Sister James Care Center in Yankton. Memorial services will be 11:00 AM, Saturday, January 18, 2014 at Christ Episcopal Church in Yankton, with the Reverend Jim Pearson officiating. Burial will take place at a later date. Arrangements are under the direction of Opsahl-Kostel Funeral Home and Crematory, Yankton, SD. A light lunch will be served in the church undercroft following the service.

Cy was born in Iowa City, Iowa on February 17, 1923 to Ruth Ketchum and Howard Beye. He graduated from University High School in Iowa City. Cy completed medical school, graduated as a Doctor of Medicine in 1946 and completed his internship in 1947. He was also declared a Diplomat of the National Board of Medical Examiners in 1947. Cy met and married the love of his life, Ruth Wilson while interning at City Hospital of Cleveland. They married in 1948 in San Francisco, California and spent the next 18 months with the army serving at various military medical posts in the Philippine Islands. Following his military service, he returned to the states to complete the four years of his residency at the University of Iowa. He and Ruth made their home in Sioux City where he formed his medical practice. Dr. Beye was admitted as a Fellow to the American College of Surgeons in 1961 He also was a lifetime member of the Iowa Medical Society and was appointed by the Governor of Iowa to head the Iowa Board of Medical Examiners. Cy retired from medicine in 1981 and he and Ruth took off to see the world aboard their first sailboat Adelante. Cy loved any kind of boat on any kind of water in any kind of weather. He and Ruth enjoyed meeting new friends and had many, many adventures. Their ocean going yachts were like members of the family. In the late 70's they bought Country Girl, a 50' sailboat and spent many winters moored at Bonaire, a small island off the coast of Venezuela. In the summers they would return to Yankton and their lake home on Lewis & Clark Lake where they enjoyed sailing their boats, Chula and Popover. Cy indulged his love of water, sailing and adventure by forming the Bobby Shaftoe Sailing School. He was a natural teacher and enjoyed sharing his love and knowledge of sailing with his students. In 1987 they returned to the states and purchased a home in Punta Gorda, Florida. Cy continued his love of boating on the Escargot, the Hannah Jane and the Darby McGraw, with trips in and around Florida and the Caribbean. Ruth developed Alzheimer's and in 2006 they moved back full time to Majestic Bluffs in Yankton where he cared for her until her death in 2007. He continued to return to Florida for several months during the winter where he lived first on the boats Andiamo and most recently the Solo. These boats were docked in the canal behind the home of his dearest friends, Andy and Jeannie Anderson.

Cy Beye lived a large, full life. There are not enough words to tell his stories or enough pages to list the friends he made and the lives he touched.

He is survived by his loving companion - his dog Daisy; his children, daughter, Elizabeth Bigley (husband Bob) of Fort Worth, Texas; son, Michael Beye (wife Janette) of Bombala, NSW, Australia; daughter Barbara Lyle (husband Roger) of Sioux City, Iowa; and son, Charles Beye of Fort Worth, Texas; grandchildren: Brian Bigley and James Fults of Plano, Texas; Maggie Beye of Chelan, Washington; Jake Beye of Spokane, Washington; Cy and McKenzie Lyle of Sioux City, Iowa; Alex Lyle of Sioux City, Iowa and Hannah and Kenny Strand of Sioux City, Iowa; great granddaughter, Hadleigh Lyle of Sioux City, Iowa. Also surviving Cy is his brother, Charles Beye and his husband Richard; sisters, Jane Boyd and Barbara Lorie; and numerous nieces and nephews. He leaves behind his loving, true friend, Pat Michels.

Cy was preceded in death by his wife, Ruth.

The family requests that memorials be sent to Christ Episcopal Church, 517 Douglas, Yankton, SD 57078.