Michael Willard Rivenes

Funeral services for Michael Willard Rivenes who passed away, on Thursday, July 24, 2025, after a lengthy illness will be held on Tuesday, August 5th at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Butte with visitation at 10:00 and Funeral service at 11:00.  

Mike was born on February 8, 1941, in Oneida, South Dakota, to Melvin and Mildred Rivenes.  His younger years were spent in different areas of South Dakota and in California.  When he was nine years old his family moved to Butte where he attended Monroe Grade School and Butte High.  Mike enjoyed playing football and basketball in school. In his adult life, he enjoyed playing softball, bowling, fishing, hunting, and camping.  Mike married Midge Winston, later divorcing.  He married Virginia Stott August 28, 1978, and they were sealed to each other in the Idaho Falls Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on May 18, 1980.

Mike worked for Safeway Milk Plant from 1959 until its closure in 1983, he worked for Land & Sea Food Co. for a couple years, and then moved to Denver where he worked as an engineer at Dairy Engineering reconditioning and selling food processing equipment until his retirement in May of 2005.  After Virginia’s retirement in 2006, they returned to Butte, Montana.  The next 11 years were the best years of their life.  They worked at the Boat Loft on Holter Lake near Wolf Creek, helping run a marina store.  It was like being on vacation every day.  Mike was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and held numerous callings. He made many life-long friends during his service in his Church. In Mike’s later years he liked to go for long rides, which happened almost every day. 

 Mike is preceded in death by his parents, Melvin and Mildred Rivenes, his brother Edward Rivenes, a brother Louis Rivenes, his sister Melody King, and a grandson Christopher Rivenes. He is survived by his wife Virginia, his daughter Michele (Chance) Peterson, his daughter Lisa (John) Ostoj, his son Steven (Brennie)Knowlton, his daughter Carol (Edward) Jackson, his son Cliff (Carol) Rivenes, his daughter Kristi Ward, his daughter Brenda Rivenes (Dayon Valdez), brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Tom and Coleen Stott, Alice Croxford, April and Brent Mecham, Bill King  He is also survived by 13 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren, plus numerous nieces and nephews.

The family wishes a special shout-out to Trek Hospice for the last years of kind service and love.  We couldn’t have keep him at home without your help