Richard ‘Dick’ Meyer Byler

Richard “Dick” Byler, beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend, died on July 5, 2026, in Parker, Colorado.  He was 82.

Dick was born in Wellington on October 1st, 1943, to Joe and Wilma Byler.  He grew up on his family’s dairy farm where he learned the value of hard work early in life, rising each day at 4 a.m. to milk the cows.  He graduated from Wellington High School, where he and a teammate won the Kansas state high school golf championship, playing on the sand greens of the time.

Dick attended the University of Kansas, where he studied pharmacy and met Bonnie Buss, who would become his wife.  They married in 1968 and moved to Durango, Colorado in 1969, drawn by his love of the outdoors, a seed planted during childhood trips to Colorado with his family.  They made Durango their home for over 35 years, building a life together as practicing pharmacists, parents and active members of their church and community.

Dick loved the outdoors, especially hunting, fishing and golf.  He and Bonnie spent many winters in San Carlos, Mexico, where Dick loved interacting with the locals, speaking Spanish, and giving to those in need.  Later they settled in Green Valley, Arizona, where Dick remained active in his church and community and made many lasting friendships.

Dick was a hard-working, selfless, and grateful man who believed in taking care of what you had and helping others.  He was also, by any reasonable measure, extremely resourceful.  But his frugality was never about keeping things for himself.  He was always willing to give his time and skills to help others, whether regripping golf clubs, cutting firewood or taking garage-sale bicycles and clothing to people in need in Mexico.  At family dinners, when asked what he was grateful for, Dick’s answer was invariably, “Indoor plumbing.”

He had a uniquely dry sense of humor and a knack for making connections with people.  He was known for his jokes, his lasting nicknames, and many memorable sayings.  He formed friendships wherever life took him, from Kansas and Colorado to Mexico and Arizona.

Richard loved his family deeply.  He and Bonnie were married for 57 years, until her death in 2025, and he missed her tremendously after she was gone.  He is survived by his son, Brett Byler and his partner Allison Greene; granddaughters Natalia and Sienna Byler; brother Bruce (Susan) Byler, and brother Tom (Jeanie) Byler; and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.  He was preceded in death by his wife Bonnie, his parents Joe and Wilma Byler, his sister Mary Ann Ciochon, and sister-in-law Marsha Byler.

Dick will be remembered for his kind heart, subtle humor, generosity, resourcefulness, and gratitude, and for the many people who called him a friend.  In lieu of flowers or donations, Richard would be most happy if you performed an unexpected act of kindness for someone in need or simply shared a fond memory of him.

A public celebration of life service will be held at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Wellington at 11 a.m. on October 13, 2026.