Maris Kathleen Melberg was born October 27, 1930, to Ole and Margaret (Tune) Melberg in Marshalltown, IA. This is where she would spend her childhood, graduating from Marshalltown High School. Shortly after graduating she met and married Lyle Heltibridle and they were blessed with two daughters. They spent many years farming in Grundy County. Aside from raising their daughters, Maris and Lyle also spent several years operating a small resort in Minnesota. She always described it as plenty of work but loved that they met so many nice people and made good friends. After Lyle passed away, Maris married Wendell Byrnes and the two continued their life in Grundy Center. She was a member of the Alice Church of God and the Grundy United Methodist Church. Maris very much enjoyed singing in the church choirs. She was also a member of the local hospice. Maris will be missed for her caring and giving personality.

Maris is survived by her daughters; Kathleen (James) Boston, of Runnells, IA and Beth (Rick) Moeller, of Conrad, IA, four granddaughters: Hope (Chad) Kepler, Emily (Matt) Karwoski, Amber (Nathan) Duden and Brooke (Brett) Noble, eight great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her first husband, Lyle, her husband, Wendell, a brother, Gordon Melberg and a sister, Jane Fiscus.