Betty Byrne has been a member of Bismarck's YMCA since it opened in 1972, and even at age 92 she still finds time to use the pools on a regular basis.

Byrne, still vibrant and talkative, is much more than just a member, according to Y executive director Andy Dahl. She is a past member of both the board of directors and board of trustees, along with volunteering countless hours to fundraising and even operations.

"When I first heard that they were going to build the YMCA, I called Eddie Conlin and asked if women were going to be allowed. He told me 'yes' so I started going," Byrne recalls. "I don't know how I got into it, but I just starting helping out. It started with registration, which I did alone for awhile, and then it just got bigger and bigger."

At first, there was just the pool and the reception area, Byrne says.

"At noon the men came in to swim, so all the women had to get out of the pool. Sometimes we had a real rush when the men were waiting for the women to get out," Byrne says. "I worked over there answering the phone and enrolling people in classes. "

There wasn't a Y when she was growing up, Byrne relates. If there had been she would have gotten a job at the Y when she got out of school rather than going into teaching.

"I've had osteoporosis since I was 12 and at one time I could hardly walk. But I found swimming was good for me and used to swim every day during the summer because it made me feel so good," Byrne says.

"I was delighted when the Y came here and I could swim year around. I still try to get over there twice a week."

The Y played an even greater importance after her husband died 30 years ago.

"It sort of saved me," Bryne says. "After he was gone I couldn't sleep at night so I'd go to the Y all day and do my calling at night. I'd bring home the forms that needed to be filled out. It kept me sane."

Bryne spent two terms on the 30-member board of directors and three terms on the board of trustees which is of similar size.

Dahl, who's been at the Y for five and a half years, says he knew the first time Byrne stepped into his office that she was someone of importance and not someone to mess around with.

"Just the way Betty carried herself and spoke, I knew that she was someone to be respected," Dahl says.

Bryne says it's hard to believe all the changes that have happened to the Y in the past 35 years and is delighted with the current expansion plans. Dahl credits Byrne as one big reason the Y has achieved the success it has in Bismarck.