Michael Albinger

Michael Andrew Albinger, 53, died of lung cancer Saturday, May 28, at Peace Hospice with family members present.

Visitation is noon to 4 p.m. today at Schnider Funeral Home. A vigil is 7 p.m. Monday at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, followed by a memorial reception. Funeral services are 10 a.m. Tuesday at Holy Spirit Catholic Church with burial services at Mount Olivet Cemetery. A reception will follow for family and friends at Holy Spirit Catholic Church.

Mike was born Aug. 1, 1957, at Columbus Hospital in Great Falls. After completing high school in 1975, he moved to Denver, attended and graduated from Denver Automotive Technical School, then moved back to Great Falls and eventually worked for City Chevrolet as a mechanic. He had an opportunity to change careers and was hired by Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad and worked as a brakeman in Mandan, N.D., and then many years in Great Falls and Havre as a brakeman/conductor. His career was cut short by a devastating head-on collision of two trains near Ledger. He was one of the few survivors, but the crash left him disabled/retired. He was an excellent worker and had many friends on the railroad throughout the state.

Mike was an avid sportsman, and truly enjoyed hunting and fishing with his friends (he shared his bounty with others, too). To him, nothing was better than a barbequed steak and a potato. His dream was to one day buy some land and have a home in the forest so he could enjoy his passions every day: to be close to nature and the great outdoors. He was able to enjoy part of this dream by going with his special friend, Elsie Batello, to her family's cabin near Lincoln. He liked to perform automobile maintenance and working with power tools. He was meticulous with keeping a groomed yard and a bountiful garden. He enjoyed taking an ice cream cone to his friend (James Johnson) at a local nursing home and then, during the summer stock car racing season, taking Jim to watch the races on Fridays and Saturdays.

Survivors include Mike's daughter, Katie Marie Albinger, currently attending Montana State University in Bozeman; sister Theresa (Albingier) Johnson of Great Falls; brothers Joe (Midori) Albinger of Tacoma, Wash., and Gerry Albingier of Great Falls; niece and nephew (Joe's children), Jennifer and Aaron "AJ" Albinger of Vancouver, Wash.; an uncle and aunt, Henry and Yadja Komendowski of Des Plaines, Ill. (and their children Peter, Stanley and Alina).

Mike was preceded in death by his father, John Albinger; and mother Stefania Albingier.

Condolences may be posted online at www.schniderfuneralhome.com and/or www.gftribune.com/obituaries.