Michael Fleming

Michael George Fleming, 96, passed away on Tuesday, October 29, 2024, in his home in Missoula, MT. He passed peacefully, surrounded by loved ones.

Mike was born to Grover and Jeanette Fleming on February 22, 1928, in Livingston, MT. Known in his younger years and to old friends as “Mickey”, he and his brothers and friends roamed South 6th Street and entertained the neighborhood with backyard carnivals, ball games, and other antics. He attended St. Mary’s Catholic School for grades 1-8 and served as an altar boy at St. Mary’s Parish for 9 years.

He was a proud Park County High School Ranger, where he had a stellar athletic career. Mike played basketball and football, and was lauded in a newspaper article saying, “[Little’s] scintillating halfback, Mickey Fleming, was ‘one of the best I’ve ever coached.’” His final year in high school, he competed in track, which was the beginning of another chapter in his remarkable athletic career.

 Upon graduation from high school, Mike joined the Navy, where he traveled all around the world on the USS Caloosahatchee. He was forever proud of his service and was a true American patriot.

 After a brief stint at Oregon State University, he transferred to the University of Montana, where he graduated in 1952 with a degree in Business. While there, he competed in football for the Grizzlies, but his claim to fame was as a Grizzly middle-distance runner, where he held the half-mile record of 1:55.9 for many years. He continued to be a staunch Griz supporter till the end!

While at UM, he met Billie Jeanne Johnston. He was in the Sigma Nu fraternity and she lived next door in the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority where their love story began. They were married in Billings, MT at Holy Cross Parish, on August 26, 1954. They lived in Kalispell, Butte, Missoula, and Billings when he worked for Conoco as a District sales manager over the next few years. In 1961, they moved back to Livingston, where he opened Mike’s Magic Corner, a newspaper/magazine/variety store, which he operated at several locations over the years. During that time, he also began a position as the Chief Youth Court Probation Officer for Park, a job that eventually became full-time and lasted for 30 years. He also served part-time as the Emergency Services Coordinator for Park County for 17 years.

 Mike was a lifetime member of St. Mary’s Parish and the Knights of Columbus. He was also a conscientious public servant: a member of the Elks, a Livingston School Board Member, Chamber of Commerce president and was the chairman of the committee which planned the new Park County City/County building. He announced the Park High football and basketball games for years and single-handedly sponsored the Hershey Track meets for local youth.

One of his greatest hobbies, however, was the art of magic. He performed shows for clubs, individual parties, and schools for over 60 years. This earned him the endearing name of “Magic Mike” with Livingston residents.

He enjoyed golfing, and building projects, and was the creator and long-time member of the Livingston Model Train Club. Loving all things Irish, he made three trips to Ireland. In later years, he devoted much of his time to serving “Senior Citizens” in Livingston and following his grandchildren’s sports and school events. He continued his prowess as a magician, performing a show for every one of his grandchildren during their Kindergarten year.

Mike is preceded in death by his wife Billie Johnston Fleming, his parents, his siblings, Jack, Jim, Pat, Marie, and Mary Lou, and his son-in-law Kelly Flynn. Survivors include his daughters Jill Flynn, Townsend, MT; Jodi (Jim) Oberweiser, Drummond, MT; Micki (Jeff) Crews, Lolo, MT; grandchildren Shannon Flynn (Lynn Reynolds), Siobhan Flynn (Ross Chewning), Katie (Tyler )Grutsch; Megan (Joe) Norton; Bridgette (Troy) Thomas, Kevin Oberweiser (Devyn Netzer), Taylor (Jackson) Wagner, Rayna Crews and Riley Crews; and 7 great-grandchildren: Joseph Norton, Isaac Grutsch, Sylvie Norton, Ezra Grutsch, Giorgie Norton, and Grey Reynolds… with a baby Thomas on the way.

We appreciate the many caregivers, friends, and neighbors from the VA, Big Sky Hospice, to Village Senior Residence and beyond who lovingly cared for Mike.

A Rosary service will be held at St. Mary’s Parish in Livingston, MT on Friday, November 8th at 7:00 p.m., with a funeral Mass on Saturday, November 9th at 11:00 a.m. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery. On Monday, November 11th, a memorial gathering will be held in Missoula in the lobby of Cambium Place Apartments from 6-8 pm.

Memorials should be directed to St. Mary’s School in Livingston.