Kevin Dale Byker

After fighting a good fight against cancer for 14 months, Kevin Dale Byker, age 69, went to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus, on Saturday evening, September 6, 2025. He took his last breath peacefully at home, surrounded by his wife and children singing Amazing Grace. Kevin was born July 23, 1956, in Hawarden, Iowa to parents Gib and Lois (Vande Brake) Byker. He was the oldest of four children. He grew up on a farm and developed a love for trees and a strong work ethic. He graduated from Dordt College with a degree in Theology. He was a self-taught drummer and traveled with JC Cornerstone Christian band in his early twenties, visiting Lynden for the first time, and fell in love with the area. His desire to help young people found him working as a youth pastor, first in Michigan and then at 1st CRC in Lynden, where he also had a lawn and tree moving business. The Lord then called him overseas and he spent 2 years as a missionary in Nigeria. In 1989, he ended up in Denver, CO where he met Meralee Hess through friends who knew they had mutual interests in music and missions. They were married on November 17, 1990. To further his desire to help kids, he received a Master's in Counseling from Denver Seminary and then prepared to serve overseas as a family. During this time, their son Kollin was born, followed by daughter Mekaela. The family was briefly in W. Africa and then 7 years in Ecuador, where Kevin specialized in addictions and family counseling, and had a call-in-radio program in Spanish. Returning to the US in 2003, Kevin settled his family in Lynden where they built their first home on property that Kevin bought back in 1990. He continued to serve as a counselor for several years under SIM at the Hope Association in Lynden, and then at Sunrise Services until retiring in 2021. Through the years Kevin has enjoyed photography, cultivating trees, woodworking, and playing drums at church. He was a meticulous craftsman when doing home projects. He volunteered as a chaplain at Juvenile Detention in Bellingham. He loved talking with people, and never met a stranger, striking up conversations with anyone. Kevin was committed to his family and made sure to tell his kids regularly "I love you, I'm proud of you, and I believe in you." Above all else, he centered his life on the Lord Jesus Christ. He loved studying the Bible, teaching the Word, and reading theology books, and he had a passion for missions and the Persecuted Church. Kevin is survived by his wife Meralee Byker, and children Kollin and Mekaela. He'll be greatly missed by brother Dan Byker (Sharon), and sisters Sharon Dahm and Mischelle Boersma. Kevin is preceded in death by his parents, daughter Andrea at birth, and pre-born twins Caleb and Kiana. The family would love to have you come and share with them at the visitation on Friday September 12, 2025, from 4 to 7 pm at Gillies. A funeral service will be Saturday, September 13 beginning at 3 PM at Sonlight Church, followed by a reception, and then a private graveside service at Greenwood Cemetery. To watch the service livestreamed go to https://www.facebook.com/GilliesFuneralHomeAndCremationServices and https://sonlightchurch.com/ Memorial funds may be sent to Open Doors or Voice of the Martyrs. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Gillies Funeral Home and Cremation Services.