Michael Russell Lindsay Mills

Our brother, best friend, mentor - especially to children - caregiver, saver-of-lives, carpenter, musician, poet, a storyteller like you've never known with a wickedly beautiful sense of humor, a friend to all he met, left us behind in the early morning of July 7, 2007.
Michael Russell Lindsay Mills was born to Marjorie Aileen (Sidle) and Russell Lawrence Mills on Sept. 2, 1953, in Greybull, Wyo. His earliest years were spent in Wyoming, Montana, New Mexico, with most of his school years lived in Longmont, Colo., graduating from Longmont High School. He continued pursuing higher education his entire adult life.
Skiing and helping people were his life's passion and work. Those ethics encompassed a lifetime's commitment working on the National Ski Patrol, working as a paramedic, as a volunteer with the Joliet EMTs, Safety Coordinator for LG Construction at the ExxonMobil Refinery, a master carpenter with his own business, Pacco Const. Co.
In 1982, Mike joined the Red Lodge Mountain family as a volunteer ski patroller. Within a couple of years, he was on the professional staff. Over the years, Mike completed his training as a paramedic and added outstanding teaching skills to his formidable clinic skills. He spent 19 years on the ski patrol staff, 12 as assistant patrol director and two as patrol director, winning awards from both the local and national ski patrol too numerous to mention. He taught several complete emergency care courses, as well as innumerable refreshers and continuing education topics. He was largely responsible for the improved integration of the ski patrol with the EMS system.
Mike has been the heart and soul of the Red Lodge Mountain patrol for the last 25 years. Whenever a scary incident occurred, somehow Mike was always there. He would always take the appropriate role, never taking advantage of this superior knowledge or position, but always leading by example and making sure things went smoothly. As one colleague put it, he "taught from the frontlines and counseled from the sidelines." Even after his knees would no longer allow him to patrol actively, Mike worked on the grooming crew and helped out in the patrol room on a volunteer basis.
Mike had a special relationship with young people. All the regulars at the Mountain knew Mike - you couldn't go with him anywhere on the hill without teenagers yelling at him constantly. This was reflected as well in his enthusiastic support for the junior ski racers of the Silver Run Ski Team. Out of all the things he did for the mountain, though, his biggest contribution was probably his humor. Whether teaching a class or handling a guest with a life-threatening injury, Mike could always bring his sense of humor to bear and make the situation just a little easier on patient and providers alike.
He was part of the brotherhood of first responders that give of themselves tirelessly and without expectation. It was his friends, his mentors of this brotherhood who worked valiantly to save him. We love you all forever. You are all now permanent parts of Mike's spirit.
Mike is survived by his sisters, Nancy and Ellen; brother-in-law Ron; his stepmother, Elizabeth Mills; stepsisters Helen and Jean; stepbrother Martin; and many nieces and nephews; first cousins Helené and John.
Mike's family also wishes to extend a special note of our deepest, most profound love and humble gratitude to Cheri, Nancee and Pete, whose love, caring and help for Mike and his family truly showed what caring for each other in this life really means. Our brother's extended family who came and cried along with us has touched and changed our lives for the better forever.
Please gather with us to celebrate our Mike's life on Saturday, July 14, at 11 a.m., at the First Congregational Church, 310 N. 27th, Billings, 245-6477.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Silver Run Ski Education Foundation, PO Box 725, Red Lodge, MT 59068, 672-2736; Joliet Mont. Emergency Ambulance Svc.; or the charity of your choice.

This obituary was originally published in the Billings Gazette.