Lyle "Mac" Charles McBride

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Lyle “Mac” Charles McBride, 86, of Haxtun, passed away peacefully at the Haxtun Hospital on Sunday, September 21st with his beloved wife, Debby, by his side. 

Mac was born in Sterling, Colorado on January 19, 1939 to John Lyle McBride and Lillian Martin McBride. He was raised on the family farm near Iliff with his father and stepmother, Bette Rogers McBride.  As a young boy, Mac spent a lot of time with his grandparents, Fred and Myrtle McBride of Iliff / Sterling and Charles and Ruth Stewart of Crook until their passing. He learned a strong work ethic, manners, how to be self-efficient, and even how to cook and sew from his elders.   He inherited a knowledge to work with his hands from his ancestors and began building motorized wagons and toys at a very young age from discarded items he found at the local dump.  Mac started working when he was nine years old.  He pulled his wagon full of pumpkins to the Broadway market and sold chickens to neighbors. During his high school years, he was a delivery person for New Method Cleaners, maintenance person at the Methodist Church where he maintained the boilers and also repaired the stained-glass windows, and did lawn work and other odd jobs.  He spent one summer working in Estes Park for Phil Martin. He maintained Casey’s Train, The silver Streak, which was and still is a popular tourist attraction. Lyle "Mac" also built the Three Little Pigs houses and maintained the other barn yard buildings around the train route. At times, he would dress up as a hobo and jump out of the tunnel and scare the kids.  He spent one summer working on a farm/ranch near Great Falls Montana.

Lyle attended McDonald and Dillon country schools and Iliff school.  He graduated from Sterling High School in 1957 and attended Northeastern Junior College. Lyle joined the United States Air Force in 1958 with four of his friends on the buddy system, to avoid the draft.  His basic training was at Lackland AFB in San Antonio, Tx. From there he went to Chanute AFB in Illinois where he studied Aircraft and missile electronics in the MATS division. He graduated at the top of his class and was offered a teaching position. Not wanting to stay in Illinois, he put in for a transfer (to no specific place).  After USAF training graduation he came home on leave.  During that time, he received his military orders to report to Travis Air Force Base in California and then flew to Tachikawa AFB, Japan.   For the next four years Mac spent many hours on planes and stationed at several Air Force Bases in the south pacific: Taiwan, Thailand, Luzon, Philippines, Guam, Hawaii, Wake and Midway Islands, Viet Nam; and time at Schilling AFB, Salina, Kansas and Travis Air Force Base, California.  At the end of his tour of duty, Lyle planned to re-enlist. He asked to be stationed at either Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne, Wyoming or Malstrom AFB in Great Falls, Montana.  His request was denied. Not wanting to live in California, he came home to Sterling.  His dream was to join the Colorado State Patrol.  He went all the way through the interview process and was offered a position in Trinidad, Co.  Deciding to stay in Sterling, he worked hard; often working three jobs at one time to make ends meet.  He worked a seasonal job at Great Western Sugar picking up tare samples at local beet dumps (he worked seasonal for many years).  He repaired radios and TVs at home for years.  He was a delivery person for Stickney’s; while employed at Bill’s Motor, he worked on transmissions, radios and AC. During this time, he also helped feed cattle and helped out on the family farm as needed.  Lyle was hired as the Superintendent of Building and Grounds at Northeastern Junior College in the late 1960s. He also taught night classes, helped with the 4H convention and managed the lights and sound for stage productions and the Miss Colorado pageant. He moved to Fort Collins in 1982 when he was offered an HVAC position at Teledyne Water Pik. He was soon promoted to Maintenance Supervisor and retired from Water Pik as the Facilities Engineer in 1998.  It was at Water Pik that he met and married the love of his life, Debby, on September 7th, 1985.  The couple celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary on September 7th, 2025.  The couple opened McBride Maintenance & Small Engine Repair business at their farm near Timnath in 1998.  Lyle was accomplished in many of the trades: building, carpentry, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, woodworking, crafting, stained glass, etc.  There really wasn’t much he couldn’t do.  He was proud to be a 3rd generation NE Colorado farm boy.  His memory was sharp, and he could tell you exactly where businesses were located back in the day and oftentimes remembered who owned or managed them. 

The couple moved to Haxtun in 2003.  Mac reopened his Maintenance & Small Engine Repair business and was soon asked to be on the Haxtun Town Board of Directors.   In 2005 Lyle was hired as the Haxtun Town Superintendent.  He retired from his position when he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease.  The disease could not deter his powerful work ethic. He started his small engine repair business back up, and opened an antique store and a stained-glass studio where he made and sold unique and creative stained-glass items.  Not one for sitting around, he worked part time packaging and shipping from his home office for Prairie IT in Haxtun.  He held that position until a month prior to his passing. Lyle and Debby managed several properties in Haxtun in the past, one of which was the Old Hospital “Drake” building. When the property owner passed away, Mac and Debby were instrumental in working with the heirs to get the building transferred to the Town of Haxtun.  The property is now a part of the Main Street Rejuvenation Program.

Mac was a member of the Haxtun Methodist Church, Lions Club, and Chamber of commerce. He was a former board member of Phillips County Economic Development, Haxtun Vision Committee, MEAN, and IFMA. 

Lyle was proud of his military service, loved his country and was very patriotic.  He was a member of the American Legion CO Post 0137. Lyle was one of 120 veterans selected to take the High Plains Honor Flight in April 2024.  His brother-in-law, Don went as well.  His very good friend, Ron went on the trip as his guardian. The three veterans visited Washington DC, where they saw the war memorials.  It was a humbling and unforgettable trip for the trio. Mac loved cruising to car shows in his 1959 Chevy El Camino with his wife by his side.

Mac is survived by his beloved wife Debby and their God daughter, Meghan (Jake) Doyle of Loveland; daughters Kelley (Mark) Hartman of South Park; and Tracy (Butch) Lapp, Sterling, six grandchildren, eleven great- great grandchildren, and many cherished and beloved family members and friends. 

He was preceded in death by his father, John Lyle McBride, and stepmother, Bette.

Lyle will be remembered as a loving husband to Debby, his quiet strength, strong handshakes, and bear hugs. Mac was as a soft-spoken, well respected, man who honored the cowboy lifestyle.  A highlight of Mac’s life was riding on the Great American Cattle Drive 1995.  He often talked about his ancestors who drove cattle across the plains.  

A celebration of life will be held at the Haxtun Community Center on October 3rd at 10am.  He will be laid to rest at Riverview cemetery in Sterling near his McBride/Filer ancestors.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the High Plains Honor Flight in honor of Lyle “Mac” McBride.  www.highplainshonorflight.org

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.