Michael Kieth Kieckbusch, beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend passed away on August 11, 2022. He will be remembered for his wonderful sense of humor, zest for life and distinct laugh. He was a true Optimist.

He was born on February 21, 1942, in Townsend, Montana the youngest son of George D. and Mildred A. (Maryott) Kieckbusch, and joined brothers Robert, William and Richard, and sisters, Betty (Reynolds), Louise (Dunning), Margery (Prebil), and Phyllis (Rauser).

Mike attended school in Townsend, Ballantine and Helena, Montana, and graduated from Townsend in 1960. He attended MSU (now U of M) for only one quarter but remained a staunch Griz fan throughout his life.

He joined the 143rd Ordinance of the Montana National Guard, in Helena, serving from 1961 –1967, receiving his basic training at Fort Ord, California, and completing his active duty at Fort Lawton, Seattle, Washington. He was a 50- year member and past Commander of American Legion Post 42 in Townsend.

Mike began his banking career with Union Bank in 1961 as a messenger and was in the operations department. He was a member of the bank’s men’s singing group, the Unionaires, along with his lifelong friends, Russell Alm and Mike Griffith. He moved to Townsend in 1973 and was employed as the Operations Officer at State Bank of Townsend. In 1990, he changed careers and became an insurance agent for AAL in Havre, MT. Many miles were amassed on his pickup traveling to meet with his clients along the hi-line from Chester to Turner. He was involved in an accident while shutting down the Optimist food booth one evening at the Hill County Fair. Because of this, Mike was forced to retire in 2000. He spent many hours at Down Under Physical Therapy and gym the next several years, working hard with trainer, Tami Nystrom. This also provided Mike with a social life, as well as physical activity. During this time, he also volunteered at Northern Montana Hospital and was a Senior Companion.

Mike met his wife, Jeannie Anderson, when they both attended a Dale Carnegie course, “How to Win Friends and Influence People” in Helena. They were married in the American Lutheran Church in White Sulphur Springs, Montana on October 1, 1966. Mike and Jeannie welcomed their first daughter, Julie in 1967, daughter Diana in 1969, daughter Sherrie in 1971, and son Kyle in 1979.

Mike participated in baseball, basketball, and football while in school and continued playing softball, basketball, bowling, and golf throughout his adult years. He was also a supporter of the Townsend Bulldogs, Helena Bengals, Havre Blue Ponies, Northern Lights and Skylights, Montana Griz, Carroll College Saints and the Helena Brewers.

Nothing compared to his lifelong love of hunting and fishing. He spent countless hours in the creeks fishing for brook trout and in the hills hunting deer, antelope and “the wily elk”. Every fall for many years, he went to hunting camp up Deep Creek with friends, Terry Stocks and Bob Wells. No one really knows how much hunting was done, but great food, lots of pitch games and many beers were enjoyed. After moving to Havre, he bought a boat for fishing the lakes and reservoirs nearby. Mike’s dream of fishing in Alaska became a reality and he had many memorable trips with family and friends. On one vacation, he had only one day to fish and was able to catch both a 35 lb. king salmon and 100 lb. halibut.

Mike was, most of all, a family man. The day he was born, he became an uncle and spent much free time with his older brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews and enjoyed his Kieckbusch and Maryott families. There were family reunions, birthday and anniversary celebrations, holiday dinners, picnics, and hunting and fishing trips.

He was a very involved father and seldom missed any activity his children were engaged in, including sports, music, school plays and parent teacher conferences. He took all his kids fishing and hunting (as much as they wanted) and helped coach t-ball and baseball.

Card games were always a great source of entertainment and competition. He introduced his family to Bikini Rummy and many raucous games were played with his family, most often around the Prebil’s dining room table. Mike was introduced to pinochle by the Anderson family and it, along with cribbage and pitch, was played with friends, in-laws, spouse, kids, and grandkids. Near the end of his life, when he could no longer hold the cards or move the pegs, he continued to play cards online with family members. Mike was a fierce competitor no matter the activity.

Mike was always involved in civic activities, and he was a member and officer of the Helena and Townsend Jaycees, Townsend Chamber of Commerce, Townsend Lions and Havre Optimists. He also served on the Townsend School Board and Broadwater Museum and Vector Control Boards. He was always willing to dress up if needed, such as for Townsend Crazy Days, Rodeo parades, Rotary variety shows, the Extension Homemakers’ theme parties and Optimist Halloween parties.

The family bought a van, which sported the license plate, 6KICKS, and so many trips were taken to ball games, ski trips to Bridger, Flathead Bible Camp, Yellowstone Park, family vacations, college tours and moving girls to college in Missoula, Oregon, and Utah.

Mike was baptized into the Methodist Church in 1944 and joined Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church in Townsend in 1984. In Havre, he was a member and served on the stewardship board of First Lutheran as well as serving as usher and greeter. Upon moving back to Helena, he became a member of St. John’s Lutheran.

Mike is survived by his sister, Margery Prebil, of Rio Vista, California, his wife, Jeannie of 55 years, and his four children, Julie and Dean Jones of Frenchtown, Montana, Diana and Jeff Brinkman of Anchorage, Alaska, Sherrie and Randy Spetz, of Lethbridge, Alberta, and Kyle and Sydney of Wasilla, Alaska. He also has 12 beloved grandchildren, Andrea, Derek and Dawson Jones, Laramie Hirschy, Walker and Hayden Brinkman, Kendra, Alexa and Courtney Spetz, Ty, Reese and Avery Kieckbusch, and 2 great grandsons, Beckham and Bentley Halenda.

Thank you to the caregivers at Beehive Homes, Elkhorn Nursing Home, St. Peter’s Hospice, St. John’s Caring Friends, and Kristy Walsh.

Memorials are suggested to Flathead Lutheran Bible Camp or Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.

A celebration of Mike’s life will be held at 11 am, Friday, August 19, 2022, at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 1000 Helena Avenue, Helena, MT.