Official Obituary of
Arline M. Mickelson
May 21, 1937 ~ August 27, 2017 (age 80) 80 Years Old
Arline Mickelson Obituary
Arline Marie Smyth Mickelson came into this world on May 21, 1937 born to two Butte Irish, Andrew Smyth and June McKenna Smyth. She was soon joined by a sister Nancy and brother Andrew. A true Butte girl, she was a wonderful dancer and figure skater and her career ambition listed in her yearbook was telephone operator. She soon met the love of her life Charles Mickelson of Anaconda at a "church dance" (bar) and they married the fall after her high school graduation. She was a superb homemaker and loved to entertain and create memorable holidays for her family, which she subsidized by working at Macintyre's each Christmas. She was an expert seamstress and quilter. She loved all things creative and domestic. Except cooking. She excelled as a mother, acting as playground monitor and boys' and girls' scout den mother, and made sure her children always considered the feelings of others and each other. She didn't love the outdoors but put up with skiing, camping, fishing and boating in the "Mick Six" aluminum fishing boat.
When her children reached high school age she went to school at Warm Springs State Hospital and worked as an LPN there for 15 years. She treasured her friendships with those coworkers for the rest of her life.
After retirement Charlie and Arline spent years travelling most of the United States and Hawaii, often with best friends, Don and Virginia Loranger (she always claimed Virginia taught her how to shop - and boy, did they shop!) and attended grandchildren's sporting and major life events. She became even more active in her beloved service clubs and made many cherished friendships. After Charlie's death in 2003 she continued travelling with friends and had cherished trips to Ireland and the Mediterranean.
She lived in the home she and Charlie built in 1960 for 50 years. She loved her neighbors and all her life could list their children, grandchildren and spouses, where they lived, and what they did for a living. In 2010 health problems necessitated a move to assisted living at The Springs of Missoula. She made many new friends there and worked on a quilt with them each year that was entered and won ribbons at the Western Montana Fair. She was also encouraged to enter and win prizes for several of her personal quilts, including a blue ribbon for a hand-sewn one. She stayed in Missoula until 2016 when she moved back to Anaconda. She enjoyed the time she lived at New Horizon's and loved reconnecting with her Anaconda friends. A fall prompted a move to Granite County Nursing Home where she lived until her death.
Arline was preceded in death by her parents, husband, brother Andrew (Buddy) Smyth, brother in law Rod Holm, and Brother- and Sister-in-Law Robert and Barbara (Garrity) Mickelson.
She is survived by her children Michael (Diane Petrovich) Mickelson; Karen (Kevin) Vaughn and Robert (Janelle Graybeal) Mickelson; her devoted sister Nancy Holm and sister-in-law Sandy Smyth of Butte.
She is survived by grandchildren and great grandchildren Jory Mickelson (Justin Taylor); Jamie and Jeff Standaert and their children Andrew, Lydia and Anthony; Ryan (Seeley Bloom) Mickelson; Erik (Leah Adams) Buhl and their daughters Emilie, Elizabeth, Rosie and Hazel Buhl; Boyd (Sarah McCallum) Buhl and their daughter Alice Buhl; Erik and Boyd's father Boyd Buhl, Sr; Krystal and Cliff Plantz and daughters Kendall, Emma and Haylee; Matt (Polly Squires) Mickelson and sons Joey and Wyatt; Jake (Lisa Padden) Mickelson and sons Mason and Reed; Dan Mickelson; Ty Graybeal and sons Liam and Bridger; Brett (Holly Dahl) Graybeal and sons Triston, Easton and Braxton. And Krystal, Matt, Jake and Dan Mickelson's mother Gina Neal and her son Beau. Special nieces and nephews Rich and Laurie Zurinsky, Pam Smyth, Tammy and Marshall Bruin, Mark and Valerie Holm, Wendy Holm, lifelong best friend Virginia Loranger, her Granite County Nursing Home family and roommate Bernadine Selensky; and friends and Butte area cousins too numerous to mention.
Arline was a devout Catholic and member of Anaconda Catholic Community, Anaconda Garden Club, Anaconda Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians and friend of Bill W. She had a tough Irish resilience that helped her live her last years of diminished physical shape with dignity and grace. She was a true "people person" and wherever she lived she was able to adjust and make important new relationships.
Services will be held at Holy Family Catholic Church in Anaconda on Saturday, September 9th, viewing at 9:30 and services at 10:30.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Liam Graybeal Benefit Fund at Flint Creek Valley Bank or the donor's choice.
217 W. Pennsylvania Ave.
Anacoonda, MT 59711
217 W. Pennsylvania Ave.
Anacoonda, MT 59711
When her children reached high school age she went to school at Warm Springs State Hospital and worked as an LPN there for 15 years. She treasured her friendships with those coworkers for the rest of her life.
After retirement Charlie and Arline spent years travelling most of the United States and Hawaii, often with best friends, Don and Virginia Loranger (she always claimed Virginia taught her how to shop - and boy, did they shop!) and attended grandchildren's sporting and major life events. She became even more active in her beloved service clubs and made many cherished friendships. After Charlie's death in 2003 she continued travelling with friends and had cherished trips to Ireland and the Mediterranean.
She lived in the home she and Charlie built in 1960 for 50 years. She loved her neighbors and all her life could list their children, grandchildren and spouses, where they lived, and what they did for a living. In 2010 health problems necessitated a move to assisted living at The Springs of Missoula. She made many new friends there and worked on a quilt with them each year that was entered and won ribbons at the Western Montana Fair. She was also encouraged to enter and win prizes for several of her personal quilts, including a blue ribbon for a hand-sewn one. She stayed in Missoula until 2016 when she moved back to Anaconda. She enjoyed the time she lived at New Horizon's and loved reconnecting with her Anaconda friends. A fall prompted a move to Granite County Nursing Home where she lived until her death.
Arline was preceded in death by her parents, husband, brother Andrew (Buddy) Smyth, brother in law Rod Holm, and Brother- and Sister-in-Law Robert and Barbara (Garrity) Mickelson.
She is survived by her children Michael (Diane Petrovich) Mickelson; Karen (Kevin) Vaughn and Robert (Janelle Graybeal) Mickelson; her devoted sister Nancy Holm and sister-in-law Sandy Smyth of Butte.
She is survived by grandchildren and great grandchildren Jory Mickelson (Justin Taylor); Jamie and Jeff Standaert and their children Andrew, Lydia and Anthony; Ryan (Seeley Bloom) Mickelson; Erik (Leah Adams) Buhl and their daughters Emilie, Elizabeth, Rosie and Hazel Buhl; Boyd (Sarah McCallum) Buhl and their daughter Alice Buhl; Erik and Boyd's father Boyd Buhl, Sr; Krystal and Cliff Plantz and daughters Kendall, Emma and Haylee; Matt (Polly Squires) Mickelson and sons Joey and Wyatt; Jake (Lisa Padden) Mickelson and sons Mason and Reed; Dan Mickelson; Ty Graybeal and sons Liam and Bridger; Brett (Holly Dahl) Graybeal and sons Triston, Easton and Braxton. And Krystal, Matt, Jake and Dan Mickelson's mother Gina Neal and her son Beau. Special nieces and nephews Rich and Laurie Zurinsky, Pam Smyth, Tammy and Marshall Bruin, Mark and Valerie Holm, Wendy Holm, lifelong best friend Virginia Loranger, her Granite County Nursing Home family and roommate Bernadine Selensky; and friends and Butte area cousins too numerous to mention.
Arline was a devout Catholic and member of Anaconda Catholic Community, Anaconda Garden Club, Anaconda Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians and friend of Bill W. She had a tough Irish resilience that helped her live her last years of diminished physical shape with dignity and grace. She was a true "people person" and wherever she lived she was able to adjust and make important new relationships.
Services will be held at Holy Family Catholic Church in Anaconda on Saturday, September 9th, viewing at 9:30 and services at 10:30.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Liam Graybeal Benefit Fund at Flint Creek Valley Bank or the donor's choice.
Visitation
SEP 9. 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM (MDT)
Holy Family Catholic Church217 W. Pennsylvania Ave.
Anacoonda, MT 59711
Mass of Christian Burial
SEP 9. 10:30 AM (MDT)
Holy Family Catholic Church217 W. Pennsylvania Ave.
Anacoonda, MT 59711
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