Lyle Robert MadsonLyle Robert Madson, 81, of Fort Collins, Colorado passed away on January 16, 2017. Lyle was born on August 29, 1935 in Richardton, ND to Frank and Margaret Madson. Lyle was the second oldest of four children and the only son. Lyle grew up on a farm south of Taylor, ND that his grandfather homesteaded in 1885. Lyle was athletic in his youth and played baseball and basketball for the Taylor Red Birds. After graduating high school Lyle went to North Dakota State Agriculture College (now NDSU) where he earned a bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering. It was in Fargo that he met his true love, Edith "Pat" Hall. After dating for a while, Lyle took Pat to his family farm to meet his parents. Before leaving to go back to school, Lyle's dad Frank asked him if he was going to marry Pat. Lyle told his dad that he was thinking about asking her to marry him, to which his dad replied "What the hell are you waiting for?" Lyle asked Pat to marry him on the car trip back to Fargo. After a short 6 month relationship they were married in Langdon, ND on June 11, 1957. After graduation Lyle took a job as a mechanical engineer for Caterpillar until 1967 when they moved to Iowa where he took a job with John Deere until his retirement in 1993. Lyle was an extremely talented engineer and held many patents for engineering with both Caterpillar and John Deere. Many of his designs are still used today and continue to make life easier for countless farmers around the world. In July of 1995, after his retirement, he was selected by Deere & Co for enrollment into the American Society of Patent Holders as a "Distinguished Corporate Inventor" at the Inventor's Hall of Fame in Akron, Ohio. In 1994 Lyle & Pat retired in Fort Collins, Colorado where they enjoyed the beauty of the Colorado Rockies and spending quality time with their friends and family. During retirement Lyle enjoyed wood working, golfing, and helping his children with countless home improvement projects. Preceded in death are his parents, two younger sisters Susan Wiley and Karen Voight, and his wife "Pat" of 59 years. Lyle is survived by his oldest sister Marilyn Forester and his three children Kathryn (Dennis) DeJong, Scott (Beth) Madson, and Laura Madson; five grandchildren, Krista (Kadin) White, Rachel (Emmanuel) Muthomi, Jonathan (Shelly) Rankin, Sarah (Will) Folkerts, and Jenny (Joe) Morett; and seven great-grandchildren, Reese, Zoe, Trinity, Christian, Sacred, Charlotte, and Harvey Lyle. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Lyle's name may be made to Shepard of the Hills Lutheran Church or The Good Samaritan Society. The Funeral service will be held on Saturday, January 21, 2017 at 3:30 PM at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, 1200 S. Taft Hill Rd., Fort Collins, CO, 80521. Family and friend may visit Lyle's Memorial Tribute at www.allnutt.com and leave a message of condolence for the family.