Maurice Kirkpatrick

Maurice Michael "Mickey" Kirkpatrick, 82, of Great Falls, a retired utility contractor and former U.S. Navy Seabee, died of natural causes Jan. 16, 2006, at a local hospital in Great Falls.

Maurice was born Jan. 14, 1924, to Ross and Rose (Chasse) Kirkpatrick, in Kalispell, where he was raised and educated. He graduated from Flathead County High School in 1941, where he excelled in football on the state championship football team. Mickey then attended Carroll College prior to entering the Navy in 1943. He served in the Pacific Theater during World War II as a Navy Seabee.

Mickey married Charlotte Pedersen on April 6, 1946, in Kalispell. He operated Kirkpatrick Bros. Construction in Kalispell from 1945 until 1956. He was then employed by Falls Construction Co. in Great Falls, from 1956 until his retirement as superintendent in 1994. He constructed major utility projects from Kalispell to Colstrip and all points in between.

Mickey was a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Elks and a member of Holy Spirit Catholic Parish. He enjoyed fishing, golfing, gardening and spending time with his family at his family cabin on the Little Bitterroot Lake. His best friend was his dog, Kelly. A favorite prayer was "Lord, please help me to be the man my dog thinks I am."

He was preceded in death by his wife, Charlotte; his father, Ross H. Kirkpatrick; his mother, Rose Chasse Kirkpatrick; a brother, Ted Kirkpatrick; and a sister, Lois Byers.

Mickey is survived by daughters Colleen Hueth, of Great Falls, Sandy Carter and husband Larry, of Marion, Reenie Berg and Corky Newton and Merlin, all of Coram, and Jody Oliver, of Kalispell; sons Michael Kirkpatrick and wife Debbie, of Great Falls, and Patrick Kirkpatrick, of Boise, Idaho; sisters Shirley McClarty and Kyrol Jystad, of Kalispell, Barbra Roche, of Minneapolis, and Helen Larrivee, of Whitefish; grandchildren Chris Hueth, Karry White, Dana Hueth, Cristy Ghekiere, Kirk, Cody and Richard Carter, Spike, Bosco and Katrine Berg, Bonnie and Susie Newton, Mick, Sam, Joey and Kelsey Oliver, and Kendra, Matthew, Leslie and Shea Kirkpatrick; and nine great grandchildren.

Funeral services took place Jan. 20, 2006, in Great Falls. Interment will take place at C. E. Conrad Memorial Cemetery in Kalispell.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.schniderfuneralhome.com. The family suggests memorials to the Humane Society of Cascade County, 1010 25th Ave. N.E., Great Falls MT 59404.