April 26, 1988 – May 7, 2025

Kyle John Hardy, age 37, passed away peacefully on May 7, 2025, surrounded by his family. He met a sudden and severe illness with unbelievable courage and grace, and was well cared for at the University of Minnesota Medical Center.

From the day he was born in Rolla, Kyle brought his characteristic easygoing attitude and mischievous nature to the world. He graduated as a Rolla Bulldog in 2006, then attended Bismarck State College, and went on to graduate from Valley City State University. He returned to the Turtle Mountains and taught Social Studies/History, first in Dunseith for two years and then Belcourt, where he was recently honored with a 10-year award. Like his dad, Kyle loved the sport of wrestling and was a dedicated coach. Kyle took pride in being involved in his school, serving as advisor of the Student Council and a track coach. He felt strongly about his students having "roots and wings;" he loved learning about Ojibwe culture and also shared his own wanderlust, facilitating trips for students to places like Bismarck, Atlanta, Orlando, and Washington, D.C.

In September 2019, Kyle triumphed over the disease that disrupted but never defined his life, when he received a double lung transplant. He lived life with a renewed sense of purpose in the 2071 days afterward; the enormity of the gift of life from his donor was never lost on Kyle.

Kyle carried immense gratitude throughout his life for everyone who helped him along his way. He paid things forward by volunteering at the Able Games and Special Olympics, serving his beloved community on the Rolla City Council, and providing encouragement and guidance to those in his lung transplant support group.

He loved wrestling, football (go Bison), taunting Vikings fans (especially his brother and sister), hunting, watching movies, learning war hero stories, tape (it's hard to explain), gummy snacks, Mountain Dew, playing cards, collecting, traveling, and confusing people with spontaneous renditions of obscure songs like "76 Trombones" and "I Love (Little Baby Ducks)." He was humble, brave, resilient, sweet, generous, kind, thoughtful, patient, reliable (on his own timeline), stubborn, and so funny. His friends were incredibly important to him. More than anything, Kyle loved to see the people he cared about happy. He loved to make people laugh and could turn just about anything into a joke that you then shared with him for life.

Kyle was happiest in the last year of his life, after meeting Alise, the woman he planned to marry and spend life with. He traveled so frequently to Canada to see her that the border patrol knew him by name. Kyle became a beloved and devoted stepfather to Lena and Rhys. This was a role he cherished, bringing him so much joy and providing Lena and Rhys with exciting adventures and laughs, countless movie nights and snuggles, unending love, kindness and support.

Welcoming Kyle into Heaven were his grandparents, Bennie and LaVonne Carlson, and Lyle and JoAnn Hardy; and his uncle, Donald Murray.

Kyle will live on in the hearts of his parents John and Becky, brother Cordell (Sabyl), niece Tateleigh, sister Tatia, and the love of his life, Alise, and their children Lena and Rhys. Kyle will also be dearly missed by a close extended family of aunts, uncles, and cousins, and many friends. And we can't forget about his gentle, loyal dog Rocco, who Kyle loved immensely.

For those who wish to honor Kyle, memorials may be sent to the Hardy family to be distributed to meaningful organizations in his name.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Tuesday, May 13, 2025 at 7:00 PM at The Derrick Dixon Event Center, Belcourt, ND with visitation beginning at 5:00 PM.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, May 14, 2025 at The Derrick Dixon Event Center, Belcourt, ND. Father Richard Fineo presiding.  A meal will be held immediately following the funeral mass at the event center.  Burial will take place at St. Ellen's Catholic Cemetery, Cavalier, ND at 4:00 PM on Wednesday, May 14, 2025.

Elick Funeral Home, Rolla, ND.