Willie "Joe" Hyde

Willie Joe Hyde, 73, died October 25th at Essentia Health, Fargo. A celebration of life will be held at a later date.

Joe was born December 20, 1951, in Paragould, Arkansas to Willie (Preston) and Imogene Hyde. His family moved to Benton Harbor, Michigan when he was six months old. He graduated from Benton Harbor High School in 1970.

Joe enjoyed a lifelong love of learning. In high school, his interest in photography led him to joining a community camera club. Joe learned how to not only take amazing photos, but also to develop them himself in the club’s dark room.

Following high school he attended Michigan Technologic University, studying computer science and mathematics. He then left college to enter the U.S. Navy where he trained and served for five and a half years as a Nuclear Reactor Operator on a submarine during the Cold War. While serving in the Navy on the USS Seadragon, Joe was known by the nickname “Wild Willie” because of his ability to stay calm no matter the circumstance. He often told the story of the nuclear reactor moving into emergency status. He was the only person on the sub who calmly dealt with and averted the emergency. Joe also was given clearance to develop the periscope pictures since he was the only sub sailor with dark room experience.

After the Navy, Joe graduated from Michigan State in 1984 with a degree in Russian with minors in Journalism and Math. In 1985, he moved to Fargo, ND, and worked for Computer Associates in downtown Fargo, selling many people their first PC. He then worked for S&L Computers as a technician and computer programmer and eventually went on to write software for North Dakota Grain Inspection, writing software that controlled more than 40% of the grain inspection business in the country.

On Dec. 10th, 1988, Joe met his wife, Gayle Ista, on a blind date and 17 days later they were engaged. He often said, “When you know, you know.” They were married July 8th, 1989 at Elim Lutheran Church. Joe served on the church council at both Elim and Bethlehem Lutheran. Joe’s love of music led him to singing in the Bethlehem church choir.

Gayle and Joe were blessed with two children, Nora and Madeline. Joe loved being a dad and never fell short of ideas to interest them. They would attend concerts, plays, and even make their own movies. He was their greatest champion: encouraging Nora’s piano and music directing career and Maddie’s art and career, driving them to countless music lessons, and bragging about them any chance he got.

He created and coached the Academic Team at Fargo North High in the early 90s, leading them to the semi-finals in the national competition in Florida in 1992 and with one of his students achieving an All American title. He loved helping Gayle coach forensics. Whenever Gayle was at a loss for information, she picked up the phone at practice and said, “Joe will know. We will call him.” He also came to practice and tournaments and supported and coached students with kindness and warmth.

He loved comedy, music, reading, history, chess, documentaries, and beating Gayle in cribbage, but losing to her in Rummikub. Most people remember Joe for his incredible mind and ability to talk about almost any subject. Gayle remembers his greatest passion was encouraging creativity and challenging others to never give up on their dreams.

He is survived by his wife, Gayle; his daughters Nora and Maddie and husband Hugh Brown, sister Sandy (Chuck) Eagan; mother-in-law, Lorraine Ista; in-laws Barbara and Randy Schuetz; Nephews, Brad Eagan, Ryan (Laura) Schuetz; Blaine Schuetz, great-nephews, Parker and Grant Schuetz.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Willie Preston and Imogene Hyde and his father-in-law, John Ista.