Fred and Mary Boyce

SYDNEY - Funeral services for Fred Boyce, 66, and Mary Boyce, 48, of Sidney, are at 10 a.m., Wednesday, June 15, 2005, at the Assembly of God Church in Sidney. Interment will be in the Richland Memorial Park Cemetery under the direction of Fulkerson Funeral Home of Sidney.
Fred was born on June 12, 1938, in Glendive, the son of Francis and Gladys (Gray) Boyce. He grew up on the ranch home, on the little Missouri and Beaver Creek in N.D. Fred attended the Goldsberry country school and graduated from Sentinel Butte High School in the class of 1951. He married Patricia Scott in 1958, and to this union they had two children, a daughter, LaVanchie and a son, Fred "Jim," Jr. On April 3, 1967, Fred married Betty Hickman in Powell, Wyo. and to this union they had a son, Lane. During this time, Fred worked for Buell and Edlund doing seismograph work. He worked throughout Wyoming, Montana, Utah and Colorado. He later entered into a partnership with Sam Miller. In 1971, Fred moved his family to Sidney, to join his father at Boyce Drilling, Inc., drilling water wells. After Betty passed away in 1991, Fred married Mary Heller.
Fred was a very active member, holding several offices in the Montana and North Dakota Water Well Drillers Association as well as the Sidney Moose Lodge. Fred enjoyed traveling, remodeling the house and doing yard work.

Mary was born on July 20, 1956, in Glendive, to a transient oil field worker, staying only long enough for a sister to be born before the work ran out. They moved on to Fairfield, Mont., long enough for a sister to be born, then off to Sun River, Mont., outside of Great Falls. There again, they stayed just long enough for a brother to be born. After graduating from Simms High School as Mary Flint, she started her family with Roni, who was born in Chouteau, Mont. Then, off to Alaska with husband, Harry, Roni and both parents, landed in Fairbanks, where Robert was born. Mary left Alaska for a new life, with her two children in tow, and Montana in her heart. She lived in Fairview, Circle and finally, Sidney, became her home, after meeting and getting married to Lee Heller in October of 1980. Some time later, "Chelle" was born. With time and travels, Mary found herself single once again. Mary grew healthy and happy with the three loves of her heart. After a lot of love and healing, Mary found this guy named, Fred Boyce, very much a part of her life. Their life had been so different from each other, but to meet them, you would have thought they had been married 40 plus years; if everyone could be so lucky.
Mary was an active member of the Women of the Moose, holding several offices. She enjoyed traveling, grandkids and black & white cows.

Mary and Fred had known each other and each other's families since the 80s. Mary worked at the M & M Café while raising her three children. Fred, all the while, was going through a hardship of his own, with the loss of his wife, Betty. Betty loved life, as the community knew, but the Lord had another task in mind for her.
After healing time had over stayed its welcome, a special "long haired friend" slipped into his life. Fred found himself eating breakfast out at the M & M Café, shortly after, it was also coffee. Mary was working five or six days a week and even a double shift if needed. Fred knew this, and Mary knew Fred knew this. Even before they married, Mary and Fred could look at each other, never say a word, but a whole conversation had taken place.
On a warm spring day in May of 1992, Mary and Fred got married, with the whole community celebrating. After this date, Mary and Fred and their families were inseparable.
To all family members, there was never a mention of step-children or parents; it was always, Mom, Dad, Grandma and Grandpa and even a few papap's. When they played together, may it be a volunteer at the Moose Lodge or a game of team darts, you always saw the rest of the family.
Take the hand of the person next to you. Look into their eyes, don't say a word but tell them you love them. You just learned the language of Mary and Fred Boyce.
Fred and Mary died near Hebron, N.D., Thursday, June 9, 2005, as a result of a vehicle accident.
Surviving them are three sons, Fred "Jim" (Sherri) Boyce, Jr. of Boise, Lane (Laurie) Boyce of Sidney, and Robert (Kimberly) Flint of Clarksville, Tenn.; three daughters, LaVanchie Boyce Starkey of Ramsey, Minn., Roni (Scott Schuler)King of St. Croix Falls, Wis., and Michelle Heller of Sidney; six brothers, George (Shirley) Boyce of Sidney, Robert (Margann) Boyce of Trotters, N.D., Richard (Pam) Boyce and Donald (Carrie) Boyce all of Angleton, Texas, Joe (Linda) Feistner of Denver, and Douglas Feistner of Fairbanks, Alaska.; four sisters, Jackie Franklin, Linda (Craig) Caupon and Bobby (Raymond) Boyd all of Fairbanks, Alaska, and Laura Mutchler of Billings; 12 grandchildren, Kori (Eric) Kary, Brian (Jenn) Tiesen, Brandon Starkey, Scott Boyce, Cassie Boyce, Ashley Boyce, Levi Boyce, Cody Boyce, Alex King, Briza King, Kristopher Flint and Austin Flint; three great-grandchildren, Keegan Kary, Keela Kary, and Brooke Tiesen.
They were preceded in death by Fred's parents; granddaughter, Kalena Starkey; wife, Betty; and Mary's brother, Richard Feistner.