Bye Barsness

Bye Barsness, age 84, died on May 30, 2025, in Tucson, Arizona with his family at his side.

The oldest of four sons, Bye was born on January 22, 1941 in Faribault, Minnesota. He graduated with honors from the University of Saint Thomas and went on to pursue his MBA at Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management. He returned to Minnesota where he passed the CPA exam, earning the highest score in the state that year.

Bye’s career spanned several decades including executive roles at The St. Paul Companies, Space Center, and Pink Office Interiors. He advised and invested in commercial real-estate after retirement.

Driven by a desire to make a difference, give back, and “be the community,” he held non-profit board roles including serving on the finance committees of the McNeely Foundation and the Indian Land Tenure Foundation.  He also served as the President of the Kinnickinnic River Land Trust and as a Town Supervisor for Saint Joseph, Wisconsin.  Prior to those commitments, he served on the board for Liberty Plaza, St. Paul Children’s Hospital, and the Northwest Area Foundation.

Bye had many hobbies including flying, sailing, boating, photography, beekeeping, tennis, and collecting agates.  He enjoyed sharing these pursuits with his family, and by doing so, instilled in them a deep appreciation of experiencing life and the beauty of nature.

Bye is proceeded in death by his parents, Webster and Stella Barsness and his brother David.  He is survived by his wife, Susan Maxwell, his brothers Rick (Sue) and Peter (Kris), his son Dan (Ava), his daughter Sarah Prentice and his granddaughters, Jenna and Megan Barsness.

A public celebration of life will be held at Holman’s Table at St Paul’s Holman Field on Saturday September 20th, from 12:00 to 2:00 pm.

In-lieu of flowers or gifts, please consider a memorial donation to the Kinnickinnic River Land Trust at: https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLink.aspx?name=E358470&id=32