Mike Q. Newberry died on Wednesday, July 24, 2013, at Kalispell Regional Medical Center, from complications following sudden cardiac arrest.
Mike was born on Dec. 27, 1949, the son of HWC "Doc" and Neidra Newberry in Arkansas City, Kan. He moved with his family to Montana at the age of 5 and forever considered Kalispell his home. Mike attended Evergreen School, and graduated from Flathead High School in 1968, Flathead Valley Community College in 1970 and the University of Montana in 1972.
Hard work was a hallmark of Mike's life. He always had chores at home in his father's veterinary clinic, but started working as a freshman in high school at Thriftway Drug and then Coca-Cola Bottling. He continued to work for Coca-Cola after moving to Libby following college. He later helped manage Libby Sports Center, a milk distributorship and the Libby newspaper.
Mike married Ginny Karst in 1980 and loved her two daughters, Krista and Kerry, as his own. Mike loved woodworking and not only remodeled the home he and Ginny bought in Libby, but also did much of the work on the family cabin at Bitterroot Lake.
Mike returned to school at Abbott Northwest Hospital in Minneapolis and trained to become an X-ray technician. After finishing his training, he continued to live in the Minneapolis area, working first for Abbott Northwest Hospital and later for a mobile X-ray company until moving to Nashville, Tenn., in 2007 to escape the cold Minnesota winters, where he continued to work as an X-ray tech.
Family was of prime importance to Mike, and he always made a point of staying in touch. He was traveling home for his niece's wedding when he collapsed after exiting the plane in Kalispell and never regained consciousness in spite of immediate CPR being administered by airport employees. His whole family is comforted that God brought Mike back to Montana and his last thought would have been happiness at being home.
Mike loved to fish and he loved going fast in his boat - and he especially loved doing both of those things at the family cabin on Bitterroot Lake. He loved the homemade banana ice cream his mom made for special family occasions. He loved to hunt with his dad. He loved to travel with Ginni - especially to Mexico. He was a student of history. He loved to read. He loved to argue politics. (And he is certainly relieved that he won't have to deal with Obamacare!)
Mike was proud to be an Eagle Scout and a past member of Boy Scout Troop 48. He spent many enjoyable hours attending and working at the Boy Scout camp on Melita Island in Flathead Lake.
Mike was preceded in death by his parents, and his wife Ginny.
He leaves daughter Krista Hansen and Rich, daughter Kerry Karst and granddaughter Taylor Ethen of Minnesota, sister Sally Newberry and sister Susan Hanson and Marlin of Kalispell, and nieces Whitley and Natalie Newberry of Kalispell, Hillary Hanson and Dave of Billings and nephew Brandon Hanson and Jen, and children Gabriel and Lillian, of Hobbs, N.M. He is also survived by many good friends, including Scott Amendola of Nashville.
Mike's life will be celebrated at a private family service at Bitterroot Lake.
Anyone wishing to honor Mike may make a contribution designated to Melita Island Boy Scout Camp and sent to Boy Scouts of America, ATTN: Jory, 110 E. Broadway, fourth floor, Missoula, MT 59801.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Mike Newberry, please visit our flower store.
Mike was born on Dec. 27, 1949, the son of HWC "Doc" and Neidra Newberry in Arkansas City, Kan. He moved with his family to Montana at the age of 5 and forever considered Kalispell his home. Mike attended Evergreen School, and graduated from Flathead High School in 1968, Flathead Valley Community College in 1970 and the University of Montana in 1972.
Hard work was a hallmark of Mike's life. He always had chores at home in his father's veterinary clinic, but started working as a freshman in high school at Thriftway Drug and then Coca-Cola Bottling. He continued to work for Coca-Cola after moving to Libby following college. He later helped manage Libby Sports Center, a milk distributorship and the Libby newspaper.
Mike married Ginny Karst in 1980 and loved her two daughters, Krista and Kerry, as his own. Mike loved woodworking and not only remodeled the home he and Ginny bought in Libby, but also did much of the work on the family cabin at Bitterroot Lake.
Mike returned to school at Abbott Northwest Hospital in Minneapolis and trained to become an X-ray technician. After finishing his training, he continued to live in the Minneapolis area, working first for Abbott Northwest Hospital and later for a mobile X-ray company until moving to Nashville, Tenn., in 2007 to escape the cold Minnesota winters, where he continued to work as an X-ray tech.
Family was of prime importance to Mike, and he always made a point of staying in touch. He was traveling home for his niece's wedding when he collapsed after exiting the plane in Kalispell and never regained consciousness in spite of immediate CPR being administered by airport employees. His whole family is comforted that God brought Mike back to Montana and his last thought would have been happiness at being home.
Mike loved to fish and he loved going fast in his boat - and he especially loved doing both of those things at the family cabin on Bitterroot Lake. He loved the homemade banana ice cream his mom made for special family occasions. He loved to hunt with his dad. He loved to travel with Ginni - especially to Mexico. He was a student of history. He loved to read. He loved to argue politics. (And he is certainly relieved that he won't have to deal with Obamacare!)
Mike was proud to be an Eagle Scout and a past member of Boy Scout Troop 48. He spent many enjoyable hours attending and working at the Boy Scout camp on Melita Island in Flathead Lake.
Mike was preceded in death by his parents, and his wife Ginny.
He leaves daughter Krista Hansen and Rich, daughter Kerry Karst and granddaughter Taylor Ethen of Minnesota, sister Sally Newberry and sister Susan Hanson and Marlin of Kalispell, and nieces Whitley and Natalie Newberry of Kalispell, Hillary Hanson and Dave of Billings and nephew Brandon Hanson and Jen, and children Gabriel and Lillian, of Hobbs, N.M. He is also survived by many good friends, including Scott Amendola of Nashville.
Mike's life will be celebrated at a private family service at Bitterroot Lake.
Anyone wishing to honor Mike may make a contribution designated to Melita Island Boy Scout Camp and sent to Boy Scouts of America, ATTN: Jory, 110 E. Broadway, fourth floor, Missoula, MT 59801.