Michael Greely

1940 - 2017

Michael Truman Greely

Helena —Michael Truman Greely, "Mike", 76, of Helena, MT, passed away on January 26th at his family cabin on the Missouri River with his loyal companion, Rudy, by his side.

Mike was born to Myril J. and Laura Lee Greely on February 28th, 1940 in Great Falls, MT. Mike graduated from Great Falls High before attending Yale University. After college Mike taught High School in Oklahoma and served in the Army Reserve, before heading to the University of Montana law school. After his law degree Mike served as an Assistant Attorney General under Forest Anderson and then became a Deputy Cascade County Attorney in 1969. While in Great falls, Mike represented the area as both a state representative and state senator. Part of his terms were the first under Montana's new constitution in 1972. Mike was elected Montana's Attorney General in 1976 serving 3 terms, the last longest serving Attorney General in Montana. He ran for Governor in 1988 and Montana Supreme court justice in 1992, losing both elections. Mike finished his career in private practice, before retiring to the cabin on the Missouri River. He was passionate about Fly-Fishing and the tranquility of the Missouri River. He also enjoyed golf, crosswords, cribbage and sweets. He loved his family and penned this poem:

"My goal in life was to be a success

Another goal to avoid loneliness

What is success was unexpected

To settle for less was not accepted

But as I aged and became much bolder

It seems success needs the eyes of a beholder

Most important, family came first

It was not success to quench my thirst

It does not matter what you do

If there is a loving family that loves you"

Mike was preceded in death by his parents, Myril J and Laura Lee Greely. He is survived by his wife Marilyn Greely (Myhre), his children Winston Greely, Morgen Heckford (Greely), and Anna Lee Greely, his daughter-in-law Lorelle Berkeley, son-in-law Damian Heckford, his grandchildren Adelade and Keaton Heckford, his sister Nancy Souder (Greely) and many nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday February 11th in the old Supreme Court chamber located in the Capitol. Memorials in Mike's memory can be made to the Missouri River Watershed Alliance, P.O. Box 11, Wolf Creek, MT 59648 or West Mont Agency, 2708 Bozeman Ave, Helena,MT 59602. To offer condolences or to share a story about Mike please visit www.helenafunerals.com.