Michael D. Lystad
Michael Dale Lystad was born on June 30, 1951, to Lyle and Muriel (Thompson) Lystad in Bottineau, N.D. Mike was born with a case of the measles, even though his mother didn’t have measles. Consequently, he had to stay in the hospital for a couple weeks. He spent his first year living with his mom and dad on his Grandpa Lystad’s farm, on the prairie near the Turtle Mountains. He quit taking naps before he was a year old, and his first word was “tractor.”
Mike was the first grandchild on the Thompson side of the family and he was so loved and got a lot of attention, especially from his Thompson uncles. Mike loved farm life and spent part of every summer during his childhood on the farm helping his uncles with the farming. Most of his birthdays as a child were celebrated on the Thompson farm in the Turtle Mountains.
Growing up in Watford City, Mike was a typical big brother to his three younger siblings. He had lots of friends and was involved in all things sports and hunting related. His friends in Watford City frequently referred to him as “Lystad” (there were four Michaels in his class) and then “Lystad” was shortened to “Ted,” which became his nickname and he was fondly known to many as Ted.
He attended school in Watford City and graduated in 1969. Shortly after high school, he enlisted in the Navy and served four years. He was stationed on a ship off the coast of Vietnam refueling other ships. He also spent some time in the Philippines. Mike enjoyed his time in the service and made many friends that he still kept in touch with.
Soon after he returned from his service in the Navy, he met Sally Adsem. Little did he know when he met Sally, that she had already become a part of the Lystad family while he was serving time in the Navy, and he was the last one in the family to meet her. They were married in May of 1975, and celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 2025.
The newly married couple moved to Stillwater, Okla., and Mike attended Oklahoma State University, obtaining a degree in Petroleum Engineering. They then moved to Tulsa where he worked for Amerada Hess. While in Tulsa, they also welcomed two daughters - Amy Jean and Jessica Coleen.
When the price of oil fell in the 1980s and petroleum engineering work became scarce, Mike became a stay-at-home dad. Later, he was hired by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) as a drilling engineer. That job took the family to Meeker, Colorado for several years, and then later to Ridgecrest, Calif. He retired from the BLM in 2018. Mike enjoyed his work and he was also happy to retire.
In the summer of 2024 Mike and Sally, along with extended family, took a trip to Norway. Mike thoroughly enjoyed the trip, took hundreds of pictures, and wanted to go back.
Two things Mike enjoyed throughout his life and performed consistently were golfing and running. Mike started running in 1978 and he kept a runners log book for every year through 2025, logging every mile he ran. He didn’t brag about his golf game, but he was a pretty good golfer.
Mike passed away unexpectedly on January 11, 2026, at home in Ridgecrest. While he had been undergoing chemo treatments for cancer, he had been feeling quite well and had tolerated chemo well, and had plans for the future.
Mike was preceded in death by his father, Lyle C. Lystad; and his mother, Muriel C. (Thompson) Lystad.
He is loved and is survived by his loving wife of 50 years, Sally (Adsem) Lystad; and his daughters, Amy Jean Lystad, Palm Desert, Calif., and Jessica Coleen Lystad and husband Eric Weese, Ridgecrest, Calif.
He was also loved by and is survived by his siblings, Pam Sharp, Bismarck, N.D., Dawn VanHorn, Corona, Calif., and Brian Lystad, Bismarck, N.D. He also leaves many nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, and lots of cousins; as well as his aunt, Janice Norderhus; and his uncles Ken Thompson and Maynard Thompson.
Rest in peace, Mike. You will be missed.