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Philomena ‘Phil' Michalsky, 81
Philomena "Phil" Michalsky, longtime Butte resident, died peacefully, surrounded by her family Saturday at the Big Sky Care Center in Helena. She died of complications related to a stroke she had 17 months ago. Phil maintained her independent spirit throughout her life and her illness.
Phil was born June 20, 1922, to Thomas and Elizabeth (McCann) Stafford in Belfast, County Antrim, Ireland. She was the second of eleven children. Phil was raised and educated in Belfast, where she was the goalie and county medalist in Camogie, the fast-paced traditional Irish game based on the rules of hurling. She was also an accomplished Irish step-dancer.
During World War II, Phil met Joseph "Joe" Michalsky, a GI from Butte stationed in Northern Ireland. They were married on Nov. 6, 1944, at St. Paul's in Belfast. In 1946, Joe was discharged from the Army and returned to Butte. Phil was among the last of the war brides to make the harrowing journey across the ocean in a transport ship to join her husband in America. She landed in New York and took the train to Butte. Phil became a citizen and was naturalized in Butte. She loved her homeland, her adopted country and Butte.
Phil and Joe started their family in Butte. Celine was born in 1947 and died shortly after birth, Lillian was born in 1948 and Joseph was born in 1952. Joe worked as a boilermaker for the Anaconda Company. The family spent many weekends traveling around and exploring the Northwest. In the 1960s, Phil began working, cleaning at Metals Bank. She and a group of women from St. Joseph's parish got together after work and after their children were asleep to walk, talk and mostly laugh. They called themselves the "night crawlers" and became like an extended family.
Phil retired from Metals Bank in the late 1970s. However, Phil was never one to slow down. She gave many hours volunteering at Our Lady of the Rockies, Highland Hospice, and St. James Hospital. She was a past president of the VFW Ladies Auxiliary and was a member of St. James Auxiliary. Phil lost her Joe on Nov. 12, 1983, and held his memory close these past 20 years. In the years following Joe's death, Phil loved to travel to visit family and friends. She often traveled to Ireland, England and even New Zealand to visit her siblings. Phil was always ready to lend a hand and to listen to her family and friends. She was quick to offer her support and quicker to offer a "nice cup of tea."
Phil was devoted to her faith, her faith community and sharing her faith with others. From the time she arrived in Butte, she was a member of St. Joseph's parish. Phil participated in all aspects of her faith community, including serving as a lector and Eucharistic minister. She was involved in many parish programs over the years including CCD, RCIA and prayer groups. She supported Catholic education and schools. Phil met with her Renew group for the last 20 years. In addition, Phil was a lay member of the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth. Phil's faith sustained her life and she touched many people through her faith.
Phil will be greatly missed by her family, friends, and all who knew her but we know she is with God watching over us.
Phil was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Joe, infant daughter Celine, sister Mary Plackowski, brother Gerald Stafford, and several brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.
Philomena is survived by daughter Lillian M. Michalsky and Alexandra Swaney Malina Helena; granddaughter, JoJay and Alan Bashford, Billings; grandson Ryan Kitts and fiancée Jenny Gambill, Decker; great-grandchildren, Sheridan Rose and Austin; son, Joseph G. Michalsky, Yarmouth Port, Mass.; siblings and in-laws, Dolores and Jim Keane, Butte, Margaret Baird, Butte, Lillian Turner, Aldridge, England, Celine Skupien, London, England, Harry Stafford, Wellington, New Zealand, Tom Stafford, Belfast, Ireland, Roy and Mary Stafford, Belfast, Ireland, Christopher and Madeline Stafford, Birmingham England, Eileen Stafford, Belfast, Ireland, and Eugene and Margaret Stafford, New Castle, England; and numerous nieces and nephews whom she loved and who loved their "Auntie Phil"; and many loving and loyal friends who will miss her good company.
Visitation for Phil will begin at 5 p.m. on Monday followed by Parish Vigil services at 7 p.m. at Wayrynen-Richards Funeral Home. The following day, on Tuesday, prayers will be recited at 9:30 a.m. in the funeral home, proceeding to St. Joseph's Catholic Church, where Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. by the Rev. Ed Stupca. A memorial family Mass will also be celebrated for Phil on Tuesday in Belfast, Ireland. Interment will be with her husband Joe in St. Patrick's Cemetery in Butte.
Memorials: Kairos House of Prayer, 1714 W. Stearns Road, Spokane, WA 99208; Butte Catholic Education Fund, 9 South Idaho, Butte, MT 59701; Our Lady of the Rockies, 434 N. Main, Butte, MT 59701; or St. Peter's Hospice, 2475 Broadway, Helena, MT 59601.
Geraldine Ann (Sullivan) Robinson, 81
Geraldine Ann (Gerry) Robinson died peacefully Thursday evening at St. Peters Hospital surrounded by her family.
On Feb. 5, 1923, Gerry was born in Butte, the second of four children of Jerry and Nora McGrath Sullivan. She was raised in the Immaculate Conception Parish and graduated from Girls Central High School in 1940. Following high school, Gerry attended the College of Great Falls under the tutelage of her aunts Mother Lucia, Sister Mary Dorothy and Sister Margarita. She received her bachelor's degree in 1943 and then worked for a short time for the Butte Welfare Department before taking a teaching position in Dutton.
She met Jim Robinson in Great Falls in 1945, shortly after he returned from the service. They were married on July 8, 1946, in Butte. Jim and Gerry made their home in Great Falls, where Jim worked with his uncles at the National Laundry. While living in Great Falls, their children, Bob, Tom, Mick, Sharon and Ed were born.
In 1956, Jim and Gerry purchased the Capital Laundry in Helena. They operated the laundry and associated businesses together until Jim's unexpected death in 1963. During that period, Mary Pat and Joe were born.
Gerry sold the laundry in 1964 and began a long career working for Helena Catholic Schools and the Western Montana Diocese, retiring in 2001.
Gerry's life was focused on her family and her faith. She was a constant source of love, support and direction for her children, her children's spouses and her grandchildren. She could be counted on to attend all manner of sporting events and other activities of her children and grandchildren logging thousands of miles attending events outside of Helena.
Family activities and get-togethers were especially important to Gerry. Holidays, weddings, baptisms, graduations and other similar events were, to her, important times of celebration of her family and her faith.
Her home and the family cabin at Canyon Ferry were the center of these special times. Gerry's "family" was not limited to her children and grandchildren. Family friends and friends of her children and grandchildren were included in Gerry's definition of "family" and all were welcome in her home and cabin.
Gerry's interests included bridge with many of her dearest friends, golf and bingo. She was an avid supporter of Carroll College athletics and Notre Dame football (much to the chagrin of her son in law).
Gerry life was a celebration of love and support and her children, grandchildren, extended family and friends will miss her dearly. We are all better for having experienced the love and example of this wonderful woman.
She was preceded in death by her husband Jim, her parents, and brothers Jack Sullivan and the Rev. Joe Pat Sullivan.
Gerry is survived by her children and their spouses, Bob and Louise Robinson, Mick and Nancy Robinson, Ed and Lorelee Robinson, Sharon Robinson, Mary Pat and Van Charlton all of Helena, Tom and Pat Robinson of Las Vegas and Joe and Judy Robinson of Billings; her brother and sister-in-law, Jerry and Jean Sullivan of Billings; and sisters-in-law, Pat Sullivan of Butte, Mary Glueckert of Williston, N.D., and Roberta Pontney of Gary, Ind.
Grand children include: Missy McCormick, Fallon, Nev.; Benji Robinson, Denver; Olivia Robinson, Seattle; Heidi Durbin, Kalispell; David Andrew, Washington D.C.; Kristin Robinson, Missoula; Jeremy and Seth Robinson, Helena; Catie and Kerry Cuchine, Helena; Sean, Danny, Brianna and Mikaela Robinson, Billings; and Bret Charlton, Helena. Gerry is also survived by six great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
Viewing will be from noon to 5:30 p.m. at Retz Funeral Home on Monday, with vigil service at the Cathedral of St. Helena at 7 p.m.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at the Cathedral at 10 a.m. Tuesday, with interment at Resurrection Cemetery immediately following. Memorials: the scholarship fund at Carroll College.
Hugh Dougherty, 70
Hugh John Dougherty died Sunday after a brief illness.
He was born in Butte on July 10, 1933, to Joseph and Catherine Gleason Dougherty. He graduated from Boys Central High School and attended the University of Notre Dame and Carroll College. He served his country in France during the Korean War, and upon returning to Montana met Jeaneen Keane, a nursing student from Carroll. They were married in Helena on Aug. 29, 1959. Hugh began and ended his life's work with the Montana Department of Transportation, retiring as a project manager in 1993 after more than 40 years of highway building in southwest Montana.
Hugh enjoyed many things in life — his buddies, his books, his puzzles and his home. He played golf until his knees started to fail him. He took up pool and always looked forward to his Wednesday night pool league. He was a avid sports fan and spent many hours watching and providing running commentary on any televised sporting event. He loved to cook and shared many great meals with his gourmet clubs. He volunteered his time as chair of the Butte-Silver Bow Fire Commission since April 2000. He became an Internet fan, spending hours looking for the best jokes to share with his mailing list. But his greatest love was his family. Although he was a quiet man whose feelings were felt more than spoken, there was never a question that his wife, his children and his grandchildren were deeply loved.
He was proud of his children and all of their accomplishments, most of his retirement activities were focused on them. His grandchildren were especially important to him and he never missed a birth, play, graduation or other important event. He watched youth football, soccer, basketball, baseball, volleyball and softball in Montana, Idaho and California. He and Jeaneen spent lots of time on the road each year, making sure to keep up with the out-of-town families and keeping everyone else up to date with his numerous photos of their adventures.
He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Jim, parents-in-law Sas and Florence Keane, and nephew Joe Julian.
Survivors include his wife of nearly 45 years, Jeaneen Keane Dougherty; son and daughter-in-law, Sar and Teresa Dougherty and their children S.P., Ryne and Kevin of Missoula; daughters and sons-in-law, Seaneen and Pat Prendergast and their children Kiley and Bill of Butte, Danette and Bill Melvin and their children Kerra, Hallie and Ross of Butte; sons and daughters-in-law, Barney and Nancy Dougherty and their children Bryce, Alex and Kyle of Irvine, Calif., Emmett and Michelle Dougherty and their children Katelyn, Maghan and Micayla of Lewiston, Idaho; sisters, Margaret Julian of Butte, Sister Mary Catherine Dougherty, Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth, Kan.; brother and sister-in-law, Barbara and Dan Dougherty of Anchorage, Alaska; numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
He was a lifetime member of St. Patrick's Parish, where Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Wednesday. Relatives and friends may call after 5 p.m. Tuesday in Duggan Dolan Chapel for visitations; parish vigil services will be conducted at 7 p.m. Cremation will take place following the Mass.
Memorials: charity of the donor's choice.
Esther Roaf, 90
Esther Mary Connole Roaf, who played piano for more than 25 years at the Bronx Lounge and Supper Club in Uptown Butte, died Wednesday in St. James Health-care.
She was born Feb. 1, 1914, in Butte to Patrick and Clara (Buehrer) Connole. She attended Butte schools and graduated from Girls Central.
When she was in the first grade, she would often visit her aunt Kate, who ran a boarding house. She would pick away at the piano there. One of the boarders, Ray Cokley, foresaw her musical ability. He and three other boarders each pitched in 25 cents to buy her $1 piano lessons from the nuns at St. Patrick's parish. Their investment paid off well. Esther played piano at the Finlen Hotel and Aero Club where she entertained many movie stars and prominent people.
One night while playing in the Gun Room of the Finlen, she saw Ray Cokley, who was then living in Billings, and had the opportunity to thank him for being responsible for her accomplishments. Besides playing at the Bronx, she was also a successful artist in oil painting. She was a longtime member of the Butte Musicians' Union.
Survivors include her son and daughter-in-law, Tom and Margie Yorath, Huntington Beach, Calif.; brother and sister-in-law, Albert and Kim Connole, Missoula; son-in-law, Bill Madlena, Butte; sisters-in-law, Leda Connole, Seattle, and Betty Connole, Snohomish, Wash.; members of the Robins family; grandchildren, Don, Steve, Michael, Bobby and John Madlena, Thomas and Liz Yorath, Alan Yorath, Lisa Schiapacasse, Theresa and Dave Cherry; and numerous great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her daughter, Alice Madlena, son, Donald Yorath, sister and brother-in-law, Mary and Red Robins, and her brothers, Don, Harvey and Ray Connole.
Cremation has taken place. Liturgy of the Resurrection will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Monday in St. Ann's Catholic Church.
Memorials: American Cancer Society.
Kevin Kelly, 46
Kevin Coleman Kelly died Tuesday at his home in Grand Junction, Colo.
He was born Sept. 11, 1957, to Coleman and JoAnn Reynolds Kelly at Miles City.
Kevin is survived by Vicki Ramsey of the home; infant daughter, Kirstin Kelly of Grand Junction; brother, Bill Fisher of Redding, Calif.; and sister, Annell O'Neill of Portland, Ore.
A service of remembrance will be 1 p.m. Sunday in Martin's Mortuary Chapel, Grand Junction.
Arrangements are under the direction of Martin Mortuary, Grand Junction.
Karen Guanell, 38
CLOVIS, N.M. — Former Butte resident Karen Guanell, died Thursday, June 10, 2004, at her residence in Clovis, N.M.
Karen was born on Sept. 15, 1965, to Leonard David Jr. and Norma (Heirigs) Walters in Princeton, N.J. She graduated from Butte High School in 1983 and then attended Arizona State University. She worked various management positions at the Regency and Hyatt Resorts in Scottsdale, Ariz.
She was preceded in death by her father, her grandparents and an infant brother.
Survivors include her daughter, Alasyn Mathea, Clovis, N.M.; mother, Norma Walters, Clovis; brother, Christopher (Sherry) Walters, Tempe, Ariz.; sister, Claire (Mike, Lt Col. USAF) Stowers and their children, Clifton Walters, Morgan and Samuel Stowers, all of Niceville, Fla.; and her aunts, uncles and cousins.
Funeral services will be at 10 a.m., Friday at St. Boniface (Idylwilde) Catholic Church, rural Freeman, S.D. Burial will be in St. Boniface Cemetery (Idylwilde). Visitations will be from 3 to 9 p.m., Thursday at the Kostel Funeral Home, Yankton, S.D., with a 7:30 p.m. rosary followed by an 8 p.m. scripture service. Visitations will resume one hour prior to the service at the church.
Patricia Carle, 75
Patricia Cleo Carle died Monday.
She was born in Butte Jan. 9, 1929, in the Murray Hospital.
She's now been called to her eternal home. Patricia rejoined her husband Martin Carle, and now watches over her loving sons, Larry Carle, Bobby Carle and her daughter and namesake Patricia Peacher. She is also keeping a special vigil over her brother Bob Savage and her dear friend who was like a sister, Marian Carle; five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Patricia loved the Lord and his angels. She had a vast array of angels in her home and loved to tell her grandchildren stories about them. "There is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over the sinner who repents." Luke 14:10; "Her sins have been forgiven for she loved so much." Luke 7:47
Patricia's family will be holding a memorial service to celebrate and honor Patricia's life, Saturday from 4 to 6 p.m. at Rays Place in the Café located at 3525 Harrison Ave.
Wilbur Criswell, 85
Wilbur F. "Cris" Criswell died Monday in the Central Montana Medical Center in Lewistown.
Cris was born Dec. 13, 1918, at Lake Cicott, Ind., to William Franklin and Roxanna (Davis) Criswell. The family moved to Montana when he was a child. He attended school at Coffee Creek and graduated from Fergus County High School in 1937. He received a bachelor's degree in engineering in 1941 from the Montana School of Mines in Butte.
On Dec. 25, 1942, he married Mary Phillips. He served in the Navy during World War II from August 1944 to August 1946.
Upon his discharge, he worked as a mining engineer in South America, Nevada, California, Idaho and Montana. In Montana, Cris was very familiar with the Virginia City, Helena and Butte areas as well as the Judith, Belt and the Little Rocky mountains.
He was a member of the Masonic Lodge in Wallace, ldaho, First Baptist Church, Presbyterian Church, National Rifle Association, and International Society of Mining Engineers. Cris enjoyed hunting and fishing in Montana. He enjoyed his friends and his family and keeping in touch with friends who he made while in school and at work in Butte. He enjoyed horseback riding, his dog "Happy," and going camping.
Survivors include his daughter Sandra Slack of Sheridan, Wyo., and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife Mary Criswell, brother Vern, and parents.
A graveside service was held Thursday in the Lewistown City Cemetery. Cremation has taken place.
Memorials: Alzheimer's Association, Montana Tech or charity of the donor's choice.
