Roy R. Sayler, 97, of Minot, ND, formerly of Underwood, ND died on Thursday, November 5, 2026, at Somerset Court, Minot surrounded by his loving family. Funeral service will be held at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Underwood, on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, at 10:30AM. Burial will be in Underwood Cemetery. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church.

Roy was born June 17, 1929, and grew up in rural Underwood, the son of Albert E. and Elizabeth (Rothmann) Sayler. He attended rural elementary school and then worked on the family farm. Later he operated a bulldozer helping to build the Garrison Dam. Roy married Elaine Hoppe on June 15, 1952, at Underwood. They made their home on a farm six miles southeast of Underwood, where they ran a wheat and Brown Swiss and Holstein dairy operation. Together they raised eight children, who gave them twenty-two grandchildren, twenty-one great grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. He took great pride and joy in his family.

He also served his community on the Rural Fire Department Board and a member of St John’s Lutheran Church. Roy and Elaine retired in 1997 and moved into Underwood. He then worked part-time for the city of Underwood for several years. Another great joy was playing the accordion for many years in several area bands, one being the Skylarks, for wedding dances, street dances, family gatherings, nursing homes, and even funerals. He also played regularly at the Dickens Festival in Garrison and the Norsk Hostfest in Minot.

After Elaine passed away in 2006, he moved to Minot. His legacy to his family is: The love of music (he provided for all his children to play a musical instrument), the benefits of hard work in achieving your goals (he milked cows twice a day every day for 45 years), the pursuit of education to provide for a better future (he served as president of the Underwood School Board for several years), and the importance of family (he was always interested in the lives of his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and new great-great-grandchild).

He is survived by his eight children: Allen (Wanda) Sayler, Woodbridge, VA, Barbara (Steve) Dentz, Carnation, WA, Rodney (Linda) Sayler, Tulsa, OK, David (Janel) Sayler, Breckenridge, MN, Diane Schell, Underwood, Susan (Dean) Cottingham, Underwood, Richard Sayler and fiancée Jennifer Fossen, Horace, and Ronald Sayler, Farmington, AR. He is also survived by twenty-two grandchildren, Cassie (Mike) Vorgang, South Riding, VA, Lisa (John) Olson, Duvall, WA, Kelley Sayler, Washington D.C., Michael (Savanah) Sayler, Tulsa, OK, Shawn Sayler and fiancée Danielle Torrance, Wahpeton, Andrea Sayler, Dilworth, MN, Heidi (Britton) Darnall, Denver, CO, Mark Schell, Underwood, Christopher (Danika) Schell, Bismarck, Jason Schell, Carrington, Adam Van Asperen, Bismarck, Eric Van Asperen, Underwood, Jared Van Asperen and significant other Ingrid Clarke, Lincoln, Jessica (Tyler) Hardy, Bismarck, Amanda (Wade) Haseleu, Underwood, Nicole Sayler and partner Justin Ryan, Moorhead, MN, Brittany (Jake) McIntosh, Fessenden, Amber (Jake) Pryor Biliske, Grand Forks, Aaron Fossen, Fargo, Kailie Fossen, Fargo, and Lily and Wyatt Sayler, Farmington, AR; twenty-one great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; three brothers, Wilmer, Ralph (Linda), and Delbert Sayler; one brother-in-law Dennis (Eldora) Folden; and many nieces and nephews.

Roy was preceded in death by his parents, wife Elaine, son-in-law Myron Schell, brother Orlen, sister Violet Swanson Olson, sisters–in-laws Janet Folden, Dorothy Hoppe, Florence Sayler, Mariann Sayler and Cletus Sayler, brothers-in-law Wilbert Hoppe, Warren Swanson, and Conrad Olson.