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- Missoulian, Montana, January 23, 2022
Michael (Mike) Ernst Dey
Michael (Mike) Ernst Dey, 84, died in Missoula, Mont. Jan. 16, 2022. Mike was born July 27, 1937 in Long Lake, Minn. to Ernst and Emily (Bassett) Dey.
Mike attended schools in Brainerd, Minn. and Bozeman, Mont. In the early 1950s, Mike moved with his family to Bozeman. In 1959, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy serving four years in the Pacific in San Diego, Calif. and as a crewmember of the USS Ute. He participated in the 1962 nuclear test in the Pacific. He was honorably discharged in 1963.
In 1963, he relocated to Kalispell, Mont. where he soon met Doris Leanne Jones. Doris and Mike married Oct. 8, 1965. Doris or "Dorrie" as he called her was always by his side tackling life's challenges. The two loved each other deeply. They raised three children ? Ken, Roger and Kathy.
Mike worked as a welder in Kalispell and at the tie yard before starting a long career as timber faller. Mike found his calling as a sawyer. He worked timber sales throughout Montana, North Idaho and Alaska for nearly 20 years until an injury ended his career.
During employment breaks, Mike supplemented his income including time as an Avon "lady" in Lewiston, Idaho and Lolo, Mont.
Mike introduced his children to the woods through many hunting, fishing, camping and outdoor adventures. Mike was also a Boy Scout leader.
Mike was probably born a century too late. He would have been more at home as a mountain man. He spent his childhood honing his fishing, trapping and hunting skills in Minnesota and Montana.
He continued his love of trapping throughout life. A well-regarded member of the Montana Trappers' Association, Mike fought hard against efforts to ban trapping. He understood the value trapping plays in maintaining a healthy environment and healthy animal populations.
Mike was a top recruiter for the NRA. He was rarely without his NRA hat and a pad of membership applications. Mike kept the family freezer filled and supplemented family finances through fur sales.
Sometimes wild animals made it home as pets including a mountain lion named Thor and a coyote named Critter.
Mike owned hunting dogs throughout life but none like Whisky who was his trusty companion on many adventures, usually right beside him on the seat of his pickup.
Mike, was deeply patriotic and a man of faith and not shy about sharing his opinions. He was a prolific letter writer to the Missoulian and a fixture on Missoula's talk radio station KGVO. His letters and calls to talk radio sparked spirited debate.
Frustrated that people didn't talk to each other enough; Mike sought to remedy that on a nearly daily basis. He was quick to share a joke or strike up a conversation with anyone.
Even in his final days as he struggled to recover from a stroke, he still tried to share jokes with his caregivers.
Mike was preceded in death by his parents Ernst and Emily; brothers Bill and Dave; sister Lois Ueland Smith.
Mike is survived by his wife Doris, children Ken (Karen) Dey, Roger (Erin) Dey, Kathy Dey; grandchildren Kyle, Kaitlyn, Emma; sisters Dana Hellyer, Fritzi Gunn.
The family would like to thank the caregivers at St. Patrick's Hospital for the compassionate care they provided.
The family will hold a private memorial service for Mike. A celebration of Mike's life is planned for a future date.
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Bassett Family Association Database
1937 - 2022 (84 years)