Michael J. Lyons

Michael (Mike) J. Lyons died on October 27, 2026 in Fargo. He experienced three careers–in journalism, public relations and academia and had two books published. In addition, he traveled frequently to Europe and its periphery in North Africa and the Middle East, as well as in the United States.

Mike was born to Harold and Irene Lyons on October 2, 1930 in Rapid City, South Dakota. The Lyons did not remain in Rapid City long, however. Between 1935 and 1944, Mike attended no fewer than nine different grade schools in the Wisconsin cities of Oshkosh, Manitowoc, Appleton, Wausau, Madison, and Green Bay, as well as Peoria and Joliet in Illinois. In the summer of 1944 his family moved to St. Paul, Minnesota, just before Mike entered Central High School, and for the first time he lived in one place for many years.

He graduated from Central in 1948 and enrolled in the University of Minnesota that fall with a major in journalism and a minor in history. His college life was interrupted in March 1951, however, when his Air National Guard unit was nationalized during the Korean War. Despite ominous rumors that it was to be sent to Korea, it remained in the Twin Cities for the duration of the conflict. However, Mike was sent to attend a four-week course in quartermaster supply operations at Warren Air Force Base, just outside of Cheyenne, Wyoming. When the course ended, Mike and his friends decided that Wyoming was safe from the “Red Menace” and returned to the Twin Cities. Mike rose to the rank of airman first before being discharged in June 1952.

After returning to the University of Minnesota in the fall of 1952, he and his friend Jim Anderson set out on a trip to Europe in the summer of 1953. While they were in London early in the trip, they saw Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip at a coronation year event. When they were in Rome, they saw Pope Pius XII at close range. Toward the end of the trip, they ventured behind the so-called “Iron Curtain” into the Soviet zone of occupation in Austria and on to Vienna. This trip instilled in Mike a life-long travel lust and a love for the cities of Paris, Vienna, and Venice as well as the mountains of Switzerland.

After returning home, Mike resumed his studies at the University and received his BA degree in 1954. He took a job as sports editor of the Little Falls Daily Transcript. Mike thoroughly enjoyed his time at the Transcript, but far more importantly, he met a pretty blue-eyed girl named Joan Rasmussen It was close to love at first sight, and they were married on June 28, 1957. It so happened that Joan shared Mike’s love for travel and especially Europe. She had taken a tour of Europe in 1954. Somehow Mike managed to finagle a leave of absence from the Transcript, which enabled the happy couple to spend two and a half months in Europe on their honeymoon. Mike did provide columns based on their trip to the Transcript.

Mary, their first child, was born on October 30, 1959. Despite his enjoyable time on the Transcript, Mike feared that it was a dead-end job and, after weighing his options, decided to enter graduate school at the U. of M. with a major in history. He had always been interested in European history and with Joan’s support decided to take the plunge in 1960. It so happened that the Sports Information Office in the Athletic Department needed a student assistant. Mike applied, and his newspaper experience enabled him to land the job. The position would evolve into a full-time job, slowing his graduate school progress. The Gopher football team made two Rose Bowl appearances during Mike’s time with the Athletic Department. The second appearance was a 21-3 victory over UCLA. It was also the last time that the Gophers played in the Rose Bowl.

Mike and Joan’s second child, Michael, was born in December 1961 in the midst of the hectic stint preparing for the Gophers’ second Rose Bowl appearance. Nancy, the third and final addition to the family, followed in August 1967.

In 1968, Mike was close enough to the end of his graduate program to seek work in academia. The result: a position in the History Department at Wisconsin State University, Whitewater. Whitewater is a small city relatively close to both Milwaukee and Madison. He received his Ph. D in December 1969, and in 1972 he took a position as chair of the History Department at North Dakota State University in Fargo and remained there until he retired in 1993. He served as chair of the department for 17 years and retired as a full professor. Among the courses Mike taught at NDSU was one on the History of World War II. It inspired him to write a book manuscript, “World War II: A Short History”. The book, dedicated to Joan, appeared in 1988 and proved a great success. “World War I: A Short History and the second edition of “World War II” both appeared in the summer of 1993.

Mike retired in 1993, receiving the 1993 College of Humanities and Social Sciences “Outstanding Research/Creativity Award”. Four of his close friends at NDSU–David Danbom, Larry Peterson, and Jerry Anderson of the History Department, and John Monzingo of the Political Science Department– as well as daughter Nancy, organized a retirement party for him. But it was no ordinary party. It was a “roast”. They took turns relating embarrassing incidents in Mike’s life, some true, most fabricated. Early in his comments, he asked, “ who wouldn’t jump at the opportunity to be publicly humiliated?” Then he added , “ since this whole affair is in my honor, it would seem that I have humiliation with honor.” It was all in fun and was highlighted by the announcement of the creation of the “Michael J. Lyons Writing Award” to be presented to a history major for writing excellence every year.

Mike, Joan and their family vacationed at Boberg’s Resort on Gull Lake for parts of 35 summers from 1963 until 1997 when the resort was sold to Grand View Lodge. It was later demolished and replaced by a much larger resort.

Mike and Joan enjoyed seven years of retirement together and traveled extensively with the help of royalties Mike received from the sales of his books. They continued to visit Europe where they enjoyed their favorite places as well as new experiences. In 1995 they visited Morocco on a tour that also took them to Portugal and Spain. Among other destinations during these years were Greece, Hawaii, the Pacific Northwest, the American Southwest, and Washington, D.C. Unfortunately, this happy time came to an end when Joan was stricken with cancer and died in August of 2000.

Mike continued to travel in Europe, Africa, and the United States. Mike’s granddaughter, Nikki, was born in 2002. Mike would also reconnect with Patricia Gilbertson, who was Joan’s friend when she and Patricia worked together at Western States Life Insurance in Fargo. She and Mike were to be significant others for 17 years and enjoyed many trips together. Mike’s last trip abroad was to Italy in 2014 at age 84. Mike would remain resilient, still driving into his 90’s, visiting family and friends in Minneapolis and the Minnesota lakes country, and living independently until the last few months of his life.

Mike is survived by daughters: Mary Lyons and Nancy (Tony Laurie) Lyons; son: Mike (Deb) Lyons; granddaughter Nikki Lyons.

A celebration of Life will be scheduled at a later date.