Michael J. Voeller, 87, of Helena, died peacefully Thursday evening, July 4, 2024, at St. Peter’s Hospital surrounded by family.
Mike was born August 23, 1936 in Poplar, Mt, the only child of Michael R. and Madelene Voeller. It was the depth of the Great Depression so they didn’t have much. They lived in the back of his father’s barber shop that had once been a coal bin that his dad converted into living quarters.
Trumped only by family, Mike’s two loves in life have always been music and journalism, both of which began at a very young age. His journalism career started at the age of seven, when he delivered the Great Falls Tribune every morning for a penny a paper, while his music career started with piano lessons in the fourth grade. By the time he was in the sixth grade he convinced his parents to sell the piano and buy a trumpet, which he played in the H.S. band as an eighth grader. Beginning his freshman year, he worked nights and weekends as an apprentice printer for the local weekly newspaper the Poplar Progressive. During his High School years, he also excelled in sports. Mike lettered in high school baseball all four years and in football (as a quarterback) for three years.
In Mike’s Junior year of High School, he won an audition for an appearance on a national talent show resulting in a trumpet solo on a national radio network. The performance drew the attention of a U.S Navy recruiter for the Navy School of Music in Washington D.C. However, Mike was only 17 and his father refused to sign the necessary paperwork. He wanted him to attend college instead. Mike told his father he’d concede to his wishes only if he was accepted to the University of Notre Dame. Much to his surprise, he passed the entrance exam and was indeed accepted.
Upon arriving in South Bend, Mike tried out for the Notre Dame Marching Band. After a successful audition, the rehearsal hall soon became his home away from home. Not only did Mike play first trumpet in both the varsity and marching bands, but he also played first cornet in the concert band.
When it came time to declare a major his sophomore year, he flipped a coin to choose between journalism and music. The first toss of the coin came up journalism, so just to be sure, he tried a second time and lo and behold, journalism won again. Mike graduated from Notre Dame in 1958 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism.
Mike was in the top ten of the draft list for men in his county, so he returned to Poplar to look for a job and wait for his draft number to come up. He became editor of both the Poplar Herald News and the Poplar Standard. He joined the Montana National Guard in Glasgow and served six months of active duty in Fort Ord, CA. He then transferred to the US Army Reserve and served in the active reserve until 1965.
In August of 1959, Mike married Sharon Beeter in her hometown of Minot, ND. They relocated to Lewistown, MT in October 1960 when he became managing editor of the Lewistown Daily News. During their marriage they became proud parents of three children: Michael, MaryEtta and Jimmer. They subsequently divorced.
Mike moved his family to Helena on August 1, 1964 where he began his 30 year career with the Helena Independent Record. In his words, he “had a front row seat to a lot of history”. This included meeting President John F. Kennedy a few short weeks before his assassination and visiting with presidents Nixon, Ford and Carter. Mike’s list of accomplishments while he was with the Independent Record are too numerous to list. Among them: appointment by Governors Stephens and Schwinden to be a Member of the Medal of Valor Advisory Council; participation in the 1972 Montana Constitutional Convention; invitations from the White House Deputy Press Secretary in 1977, 1978 and 1979 to question White House Staff and the President, as well as an invitation from the Department of State to attend a Foreign Policy Conference for Editors and Broadcasters in 1980. His collection of memorabilia also includes a hand signed thank you note from President Carter for his participation in the deliberative process leading to the new treaties between the US and Panama.
His innovations at the Independent Record include the introduction of the “Your Time” entertainment section and the addition of a Saturday morning newspaper. He was particularly proud of the years he spent lobbying the Montana Legislature after being designated by Lee Enterprises as their lobbyist for their four Montana newspapers: The Billings Gazette, The Missoulian, The Montana Standard and The Independent Record. In addition to his work at the paper, Mike was president of the Montana Associated Press Editors, Chairman of the Public Affairs Committee of the Helena Chamber of Commerce and in his remaining free time arranged for concerts by military bands. His retirement party in 1994 was attended by every living Montana governor, of which there were five.
Mike married Jean Voeller in 1975. This marriage resulted in a blended family of five children and eventually ten grandchildren and two great grandchildren. They retired from their respective jobs in 1994 and began spending their winters in Green Valley, Arizona enjoying each other’s company, the warm weather and golfing. Their summer months in Montana were spent with their children and grandchildren. Nothing was more important to Mike than his family. He especially looked forward to the annual Voeller Family Golf Tournament that he hosted in Fairmont every Labor Day Weekend for more than 20 years.
Mike was preceded in death by his parents and his beloved wife Jean, who died in 2013.
Survivors include 5 children, 10 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren: Michael R (Wendy), Kelsey, Karissa and Dylan Voeller, Helena; MaryEtta (Rick), Colter and Jacob Sodja, Helena and James S. (Tana), Carson and Josie Voeller, Whitefish; Brad (Kim), Braydon (Megan) Scottie Sinclair and Brittany (Mason), Sage Cushing all of Billings and Sue Barrow, Tommy, Boise, Idaho.
Mike began his newspaper career by attaching a -30- to the end of his stories, which denotes end of take or end of copy, and so we end it here.
-30-
The family will receive friends beginning at 5:00 pm with a Vigil service to start at 6:00 pm Monday, July 22, 2024 at Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home. A funeral Mass will be celebrated Tuesday, July 23, 2024 at 12:00 PM at the Cathedral of St. Helena. Interment will follow at Resurrection Cemetery. A reception will then follow in the Brondel Center located in the lower level of the Cathedral. Memorials in Mike’s name may be made to the Cathedral of St. Helena, 530 N Ewing Street, Helena, MT 59601.
Service Schedule
Family Receiving Friends
5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Monday July 22, 2024
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N. Montana Avenue
Helena, Montana
Vigil
6:00 p.m.
Monday July 22, 2024
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N. Montana Avenue
Helena, Montana
Rite of Committal
Following Mass
Tuesday July 23, 2024
Resurrection Cemetery
Helena, Montana
Reception
Immediately following the Committal Rites
Tuesday July 23, 2024
Brondel Center in lower level of the Cathedral
,
Service Schedule
Family Receiving Friends
5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Monday July 22, 2024
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N. Montana Avenue
Helena, Montana
Vigil
6:00 p.m.
Monday July 22, 2024
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N. Montana Avenue
Helena, Montana
Rite of Committal
Following Mass
Tuesday July 23, 2024
Resurrection Cemetery
Helena, Montana
Reception
Immediately following the Committal Rites
Tuesday July 23, 2024
Brondel Center in lower level of the Cathedral
,
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George Lane says
Mike was my first editor when I joined the IR in 1978. He was a first-class newsman and a great guy
George Lane, former IR photographer
George Ochenski says
Mike was a for-real editor who knew his issues, especially taxation, and wasn’t afraid to pen real editorials — unlike so many “editors” these days.
He asked me to start writing regular columns for the IR in 1985 when I was lobbying for the Montana Environmental Information Center and asked Gary Langley, the then-executive director of the Montana Mining Association to do the same thing.
I still recall one day when I called him up and told him I’d be bringing my “editorial” over that afternoon (long before email existed). He immediately corrected me and said “You write columns — editors write editorials.” He was right, of course…and to this day I often offer the same advice to fellow columnists who mistakenly call their columns “editorials.”
He was a tough nut conservative, but quite frankly, we’d be a lot better off if more of the “conservatives” were as well informed and fiscally conscious as old Mike. Kept in touch with him for years afterwards and sorry to see the old boy go!
Erik Burke says
Mike was a one of a kind Montanan and fellow Notre Dame band alumnus. The guy had a story for every occasion, and his own story of growing up in Poplar, heading to Notre Dame, and working and playing for legendary band director Robert O’Brien there is the stuff of American lore. Only shadowed by his storied career in Montana journalism. Honored to know him, and feel blessed to share stories and memories with him over the years. Onward to victory, Mike!
Rinay Bender says
Mike, Maryetta and Jim,
We send our condolences for the loss of your Dad. May he rest in peace.
Love to you, Andy and Rinay Bender
Anne Bartsch says
Your dad was a great man. I’ve only known him for a short time but I loved hearing him tell stories about growing up in Poplar, going to Notre Dame, being in the band, and working at the Independent Record. He would always end his stories with a smile that erupted his face. Reading his obituary also showed me how humble he was. I hope you will all continue his art of story telling the way you complimented a life well lived in the above obituary. Peace to all of you,