Micheal Robert Stark of Darby, Montana passed away on Friday, June 2 at Marcus Daly Memorial Hospice in Hamilton. He died of liver cancer caused by Hepatitis C. His dying request was for everyone to be tested for this silent killer that he likely contracted from a childhood blood transfusion.
Micheal was born June 5, 1954 in Deadwood, SD, to Bill and Maxine Stark. He graduated from Powder River County High School in Broadus, in 1972 and married his soulmate, Dixie Patten, at Biddle, MT in the postmaster’s yard on August 28, 1977. Mike and Dixie then attended the University of Montana. He studied the arts and humanities, history and government, and prepared to become a school teacher. Mike was the first in his family to attend college. He graduated with honors from UM with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Art, financed largely by working double shifts in the Wyoming oil fields during summers. A former professor wrote, “I considered him one of my special students among the thousands that I taught.” Mike later attained his Master’s Degree, studying for multiple summers in an Interdisciplinary Arts Program designed for teachers.
Mike was just as comfortable visiting with the next biker at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally as he was conversing with a retired federal judge at a Broadway play. He was an artist, but his greatest artistic talent was in the area of art education. Mike retired in 2009 after teaching art, social studies and history at Darby Public Schools for 25 years. Mr. Stark, as they knew him, inspired many students to pursue art for both personal enrichment and public display. Many of his former students keep the kiln of creativeness lit in their lives, and the lives of others, all in thanks to his teachings and friendship. One student wrote, “He was an amazing teacher, friend, mentor, and man. He truly cared for all of his students and anyone in his life. He was a blessing to Darby and all lucky enough to know him.”
Mike was a member of the Darby Volunteer Fire Department for 18 years. He shared a brotherhood with his fellow firefighters and he loved them fiercely. He was a rookie firefighter the summer of 2000, when 450 square miles of the Bitterroot including numerous structures were lost. Since then, Mike was on several large fires in the Bitterroot Valley and Western Montana. He was dedicated to the success of the Strawberry Festival Fund Raiser to assist the Darby Fire Department. He was still an active duty member when he passed away.
He worked as a roughneck and a derrick hand, his grandpa taught him to paint houses and barns, his dad taught him to drywall, he moved furniture in Detroit and lived in Milwaukee, he could buck hay, and he always worked hard. But he also really loved his leisure activities; friends and family, fabulous food, lakes and rivers, being outdoors and camping, hunting and fishing, and being spontaneous. As a teenager, he hitchhiked across America with a big dog. He laughed out loud every day. Mike had a special talent for living in the moment and seeking opportunities to make us all laugh, engage life and connect with each other. Mike looked forward to “getting out there” with friends and family any chance he could.
Mike loved to experience the world, including visiting Iceland last June. He snorkeled in Hawaii; caught salmon and halibut in Alaska; parasailed on Lake Coeur d’Alene; attended theatre in New York, San Francisco, and numerous little towns; visited the Chicago Institute of Arts, the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, and the Smithsonian Museums; and attended the World’s Fair in Vancouver, BC. He loved to ride his motorcycle, special snowmobile trips, go cross-country skiing or go rafting in summer. Recreation on or near water was always better than without water, and camping was even better with fishing. He loved Montana and the Black Hills of South Dakota.
Mike was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, William Delbert (Del) and Elma Hines; his father, William Luther Stark and his mother, Maxine Hines Patten. He is survived by his beloved wife, Dixie Stark of Darby; his brothers John (Connie) Robinson of Broadus and Dan (Cheryl) Stark of Thompson Falls; his sisters LeAnn (Steve) Rhodes of Broadus, Sherlee (Richard) Santorno of Ronan, Kendra (Dan) Hartman of Broadus, his God-daughters Tesha and Kayla Stark, and many treasured nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.
A memorial tribute will be held at the Darby Community Clubhouse on August 5 at 2 p.m. to celebrate Mike’s life and his service to the community. Family, friends, and the community are invited.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Darby Volunteer Fire Department or to a charity of your choice.