Mike McCann, 96, of Libby

Mike McCann, 96, passed away on Jan. 21, 2014, at Libby Care Center.  

He was born Dec. 8, 1917,  and grew up and attended Catholic schools in Thief River Falls, Minn.  

At 15, he hopped a freight train to his aunt’s ranch off old Highway 2 on the Montana/Idaho state line.  He worked in the woods and logging camps with his cousin and other young friends.  

He married Kay Fisher from Thief River Falls in the Catholic Church in Bonner’s Ferry, Idaho, in 1939.

He worked in the mines at Burke, Idaho, and was transferred to mines in northern California during the war.  

He started working for J. Neil’s Lumber, Co., at Troy, in 1944 as a crosscut sawyer but soon became a mechanic.  

Mike lived with his family at Troy, Warland and Rexford and moved to Libby in 1957 while employed by J. Neil’s Lumber/St. Regis Paper, Co.

He was a member of the Eagles and the Libby chapter of the Good Sam Club.  Mike’s “hobby” was getting firewood, and he always had a huge supply.

Mike and Kay built a five-bedroom log home with two stone fireplaces south of Libby, where he lived until breaking his hip at age 95.

He was preceded in death by a sister, June Borgen; a brother, Martin; children,  Marie and Patrick; a grandson, Larry Lee Barnes, Jr.; as well as twin great-granddaughters.

Survivors include his wife of 74 years, Kay; children, Joan (Larry) Barnes; Michael (Marsha); William (Jeni), and Alexis (Samuel) Baker; a brother, Robert of Lebanon, Ore.; 14 grandchildren, 29 great-grandchildren, and nine great- great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

Service will be 11 a.m. Monday, Jan. 27, 2014, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Libby.

Arrangements are by Schnackenberg & Nelson Funeral Home & Crematory in Libby.