Kevin Patrick Dennehy

Kevin Patrick Dennehy died suddenly Christmas night, after spending a wonderful couple of days visiting, laughing, playing games, and telling stories, surrounded by family and friends. His exit had all the hallmarks of a classic “Irish goodbye,” no advance notice and no time for good-byes.

Kevin was born in Butte on November 11, 1963, the fifth and youngest child of Bernie and Ruth “Pete” Dennehy. He was a proud Monroe Coyote and Butte Central Maroon. He graduated from Montana Tech with a degree in Business Finance and several years later capped off his education with a M.B.A. from the University of Montana.

Kevin went to work fresh out of college at the National Center for Appropriate Technology. Several years later, he joined a start-up subsidiary of the Montana Power Company that would become Touch America. In 2005, he started working with the Sisters of Charity at St. James Healthcare, initially as Director of the Foundation, and most recently as Vice President of Strategy & Business Development for SCL Health. That’s a simple chronology of a work-life filled with friendships, mentors, and life experiences, some stress, many smiles, all valued and treasured.

Kevin and his wife Liza met at Montana Tech, and he goes to his grave maintaining they met in the library. They married in 1989. Keli was born in 1992 and Jake in 1994. Over the years, he worked track meets, timed speedskating, cross-country, and road races, coached youth baseball, basketball, soccer, and little-guy football. He gave his children, and the children of others, his time. He was unfailingly positive, occasionally stern, always present. Over the years, he never raised his voice in anger, even on those few occasions when he likely should have.

And always there was laughter. Potentially disastrous vacations and assorted mishaps became wonderful memories because Kevin had a gift of finding humor in any situation. He was quick to smile and always ready to giggle. The gift of laughter is a gift that lives on in his children.

Kevin was preceded in death by his mother and father, Bernie and Pete Dennehy, and his sister-in-law, Peggy Dennehy. He is survived by his wife, Liza, daughter Keli and son, Jake (Jonna Mallillin); his brothers and sisters-in-law, John Mike and Jean Dennehy of Butte, Bernie and Debbie Dennehy of Seattle, and Dan Dennehy of Butte; sister and brother-in-law, Mary Kay and Len LeVeaux of Butte. His mother and father-in-law, Betty and Charlie Merrifield; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Jim Merrifield, Chuck and Katie Merrifield of Butte, Lori and Pete Babcock of Missoula, Jim Richardson of Dillon, and numerous nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews.

Mass of the Resurrection will be conducted at 11 a.m. Friday at St. Ann’s Catholic Church.  Friends may call at the church beginning at 9:30 a.m.  Cremation has taken place. Entombment of the ashes will follow in the Holy Cross Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to the St. James Foundation, 425 West Porphyry St., Butte, MT 59701, or a charity of the donor’s choice.