Mike Pichette Obituary

HELENA - Mike Pichette, 66, of Helena, died Saturday, Sept. 24, in Helena after a short illness.

A celebration of his life is at 4:30 p.m. Thursday at Jorgenson's in Helena. Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home of Helena is in charge of arrangements.

Mike was born to Betty and Charles Pichette on Sept. 13, 1945, in Great Falls and worked as the director of government relations for NorthWestern Energy.

He is survived by a family who loved him: Alicia; daughters, Anne and Claire; son-in-law John Dendy; brother David; and sister-in-law Toni Cross.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and a daughter, Blythe.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Mike Pichette Key Club Service Scholarship Fund, c/o Valley Bank of Helena, P.O. Box 5269, Helena, MT 59604.

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

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Great Falls Tribune on Sep. 27, 2011.

Memories and Condolences
for Mike Pichette

13 Entries

Penny (Bowlin) Meeks

October 5, 2011

So shocked and sad to learn of Mike's death. We were Bison classmates and served together as senior class officers. I have many fond memories of Mike and his mom from the highschool years and really enjoyed a good visit at our last reunion. He was always a sincere nice guy with a great smile. My condolences and prayers to all of his family as you cope with his absence.

Lynda Huntsberger Hillmar

October 1, 2011

Dear Dave and Family,
Was so sorry to see the passing of your brother Mike. It is all ways hard when you loose someone so young, but you will all ways carry his memories with you.
My condolences to you and your family. Lynda

September 30, 2011

Mike will surely be missed. He was so sincere and helped me so many times during the legislative sessions. My thoughts and prayers are with you. Rep. Gordon Hendrick

September 29, 2011

Dear Alicia, David, Anne and Claire,
Randy and I are so very sorry to hear of Mike's passing. He was a kind, intelligent man.

Warmest sympathy,
Nora & Randy Gray

Molly McCollum Lund

September 29, 2011

Dear Pichette family,

What a loss for all of you and all us "Bisons" of 1963 graduating class. Mike and his mother Betty will always be remembered during our special year.
Mike was my senior year sweetheart and we enjoyed a wonderful graduation time.
He got me through chemistry class as the arts were my emphasis. May our Savior bless you in your healing.

Ron Maadeen

September 28, 2011

My earliest memories in life have my friend Mike Pichette in them as we were best buddies through age 6 in the little town of Eastport, Idaho. Later our families reconnected in Great Falls and he became school hero to many boys, but especially me. As a preteen, he weathered the death of his father and shouldered the duties of man of the family without an outward grimace; he was a penultimate scholar, early on a dedicated Kiwanian through his Key Club leadership; a school and civic leader; probably one of the most greatly admired boys in the class of '63. Above all he lived his life like a man when the rest of us were boys. He taught me how to waterski,drive a motorboat, find satellites in the night sky over Flathead Lake; gave me 'just in time dance lessons'. Perhaps most important he gave me an internal litmus test which I knowingly or not used frequently as a teenager and young man: what would Mike Pichette do in this situation? Years and careers caused us to separate and sadly never reconnect. I followed his career and accomplishments off and on and certainly wasn't surprised to find him an admired businessman, successful public servant, and a great friend and mentor to many, many people. It's overused but never has this saying been more poignant: Montana and the world are lesser places without his grace amongst us. Goodbye my friend and thank you for helping me on my way. To David, Alicia, Claire and Anne, the Madeen family (Helen, Ron and Margaret) send their condolences and best wishes.

Rep. James Knox

September 28, 2011

Mike will be missed. He was such a pleasure to work with this past session. I had a conversation one break where he expressed how much he enjoyed his work and the ‘Helena political’ scene. Mike has a great smile and a warmth that was infectious at times. His impact on Montana is clear and he will be missed.

Rep. James Knox

Don and Libby Torgerson

September 27, 2011

Dear David and family, So many memories of Mike come to mind. He was an inspiration as a young man in Great Falls and later as a consultant in Helena. He's greatly missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with your family.

Phil Maxwell

September 27, 2011

Mike and his smile will be missed in the halls of the Capital.

John Kimble

September 27, 2011

So very sorry to heaar about Mike He was a special man. I value the time working with him at the OSPI.

Rae Olsen

September 27, 2011

Mike was a wondeful Dad, great Democrat and superior friend. He will be missed by all who knew him. My thoughts and prayers are with his loved ones.

Candice Buley Wagner GFHS 1965

September 27, 2011

Dear Pichette family,

I remember Mike and his mom so much from GFHS in the mid-sixties. He was as handsome inside as he was out, and his mom was just the best secretary any school could have. My heart and prayers go out to you as you are missing your wonderful husband/father/grandpa. What would Key Club have been w/o him? May the Holy Spirit, Our Comforter, hold you very close in the days to come.

Judy Byrne

September 27, 2011

Dear Dave and family,

I am so sorry to hear about Mike, and I know you will sorely miss him. I often visited with Mike when we were lobbying at the legislature, and he was always such a gentleman and gentle man. I looked for his smiling face while wandering the halls of the capitol, and I nearly always found him. It's funny that he and I spent more time together since high school than I have spent with you.

My deepest condolences. With love and prayers, Judy

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