Mick Mills

Longtime Libby resident and community volunteer Franklin A. (Mick) Mills, 81, died on Feb. 9, 2005, at Sandpoint, Idaho.

Mick was born on March 12, 1923, at Seattle, Wash., to Frank Mills and Ruth Marshall Mills.

When he was very young, Mick moved to Kalispell where he lived with his mother and grandmother.

Mick grew up hiking, fishing and skiing in the Flathead, Bitterroot and Glacier Park areas.

He graduated from Flathead High School with the Class of 1942.

Following graduation, Mick completed aviation school and after being drafted into the U.S. Army in 1943, was assigned to the Army Air Corps.

While stationed in Spokane, Mick met Zelda (Lee) Anderson and they became engaged before he went overseas.

They were married on Dec. 27, 1947.

Mick and Lee moved to Libby in 1948, and except for the time when Mick was called up for service in the Korean War, they remained in Libby until 2003.

Mick worked briefly for a flying service before beginning his long association with J. Neils Lumber Company, eventually serving as safety supervisor until his retirement in 1983.

Mick was involved with the development of several community organizations, including Libby Volunteer Ambulance, David Thompson Search and Rescue and Turner Mountain Ski Patrol.

Mick acted as Lincoln County civil defense officer for many years. He taught numerous first aid and emergency preparedness classes in Libby and throughout Montana.

After retirement, Mick volunteered for the Alert Helicopter Service at Kalispell Regional Medical Center as an emergency medical technician.

Mick and Lee were active members of St. Luke¹s Episcopal Church.

Preceded in death by his wife Lee in 2003, Mick is survived by his children, Mark Mills, Sierra Vista, Ariz.; Kim and Debra Mills, Powell, Wyo.; Kirk Mills, Arvada, Colo.; Mary Shannon and Barney Wisdom, Spokane; Kelly and Kirsten Mills, Ashburn, Va., and Eric (Sam) and Lisa Mills, Sandpoint, and seven grandchildren.

Mick was also preceded in death by half-brother Don Mills and half-sister Dolores (Dee) Hanson.

Services are planned for Saturday, Feb. 19, at 1 p.m. at Christ Lutheran Church with longtime friend the Rev. Carolyn Kuhr of Kalispell officiating.

Memorials may be made to the CARD Clinic in Libby.

Arrangements are under care of the Lakeview Funeral Home in Sandpoint and the Nelson & Vial Funeral Home of Libby.