Peter Cummins Dyke

Peter Cummins Dyke, 91 of West Fargo died on April 10. Peter was born on February 7, 1934 in Sheldon, Iowa to the late Dr. Lester Maris and Marguerite Dyke. Peter was pre-deceased by his identical twin Jan and older brother Lester.

Peter had a classic Midwestern upbringing filled with sports, the outdoors, and family. At 15, Peter and Jan were enrolled at the Phillips Exeter Academy sight unseen and boarded a train from Iowa to Exeter, New Hampshire where they attended as boarding students, graduating in 1952. Peter loved Exeter and credited it with expanding his worldview and sparking his lifelong love of history, culture and learning. He and Jan then both entered Yale University; they and other sets of identical twins were featured on the front page of the student paper their freshmen year. After graduation in 1956, Peter and Jan both entered medical school. Peter graduated from the Duke University School of Medicine in 1960 and completed a residency in Internal Medicine at the Johns Hopkins hospitals. Although proud of being an internist, his interest in oncology led him to become a pathologist, specializing in surgical pathology and cancer. Peter often talked about his fellowship at Memorial Sloan Kettering in New York City with great pride. Peter had a distinctly academic nature and took great pride in medical research and publishing. He spent the later part of his career working in private practice.

Peter had four children: Cornelius (Mac) Dyke of Fargo, ND, Timothy Dyke of Honolulu, HI, Molly Dillon of San Mateo, CA and Peter Dyke of Boise, ID. Peter retired early and spent many decades in Southern California sailing the Rover out of Dana Point Harbor. Never a racer, he was enthusiastic about cruising and spent many happy days sailing to the Channel Islands and coastal waters off California. In Dana Point, Peter met and spent many happy years with his partner Barbara Bates. Peter moved to Fargo, North Dakota in his older years to be closer to family. Independent until just before the end, he filled his days reading, browsing the internet, and watching his youngest granddaughter (Perry) play hockey; this brought him great joy.

Peter was a man of great intellect. He was a passionate and continual reader and his bookcases were filled with books annotated and underlined with his ubiquitous red flair marker. He had great compassion for the underdog and disadvantaged. He also had sharp opinions and was not shy about expressing them. He was charming and had a mischievous side that was appealing.

Peter is survived by his four children, ten grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren. He will be buried at the family plot in Orange City, Iowa at a later date.

The family would like to thank the hospice care team at Eventide Moorhead and Ethos for the compassionate care Peter received his last year. Donation in his memory can be made online or by mail to Ethos at Ethos Home Health Care and Hospice, 3661 45th Street South, Suite 100
Fargo, ND 58104