Family, friends, and fellow reality television personalities gathered Saturday, August 22, at Augustana Lutheran Church in Grand Forks, North Dakota, to honor the life of Tyler Duckworth, who died earlier this month at age 44.
Duckworth, known for his appearances on MTV's The Challenge and Real World: Key West, was found unresponsive in his Grand Forks apartment on August 11 after neighbors reported water coming through the ceiling, according to the Grand Forks Police Department.
His mother, Joni, announced his passing via Facebook on August 13, stating that the cause of death had yet to be determined. A spokesperson for the North Dakota State Forensic Examiner's Office confirmed that the full investigation will take at least 90 days to complete, with autopsy results still pending.
The memorial service featured a program celebrating Duckworth's life, which included a passage from Philippians 4:6-7. The biblical quote read, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
Johnny "Bananas" Devenanzio, a fellow Challenge competitor who attended the service, shared images from the memorial on his Instagram Story, including a photograph of the program.
Beyond his reality television career, Duckworth worked as a world history teacher. His mother reflected on his dedication to education in a statement to People magazine. She described how her son found his calling in the classroom and connected with students through his extensive travel experiences and passion for history and geography.
"My Ty-Guy would skip to school when he was little," Joni said in her statement to People. "He has now gone on to a better place where the hurts and challenges (pun intended) are no longer."
Duckworth made history as a pioneering LGBTQ+ contestant on The Challenge, winning the Cutthroat season in 2010 and the Rivals season in 2011. He also competed in The Duel, The Gauntlet III, All Stars 2, and All Stars 3.
Following news of his death, members of The Challenge community expressed their grief publicly. Devenanzio wrote on Instagram on August 14 that Duckworth was more than a friend and roommate, calling him the brother he never had.
Brad Fiorenza, another Challenge alum, described being absolutely heartbroken by the loss. He noted that he and Duckworth had seen each other at an event just weeks before his death, and expressed gratitude for the memories they shared as part of The Challenge family.