Michael E. Colbert, age 80 of Townsend

Michael Colbert passed away at his home on Saturday, January 3, 2026, after an unexpected illness. He was eighty years old.

Mike was born in Sparta, Illinois, on October 8, 1945, to Edgar and Marie Colbert, joining three older brothers, Phil, Dave, and Don. When Mike was four years old, the family moved to Butte, Montana, where Mike spent most of his childhood. With four boys growing up in Butte in the 1950’s, what could go wrong? Phrases like “22-shells shot through the refrigerator,” “swallowing whole goldfish,” “forks heated up on the stove” and “tipped-over outhouses” were heard and debated in the stories that the Colbert boys still told when together. In 1956, little sister Leota joined the family, and Mike and Leota shared a special bond for the rest of his life.

After his parents moved to Dillon, Mike finished high school there, graduating in 1964. He joined the U.S. Army, serving his country state-side for three years. Not long after his father died in February of 1967, Mike was honorably discharged, and he moved home to Dillon. He began classes at Western Montana College and worked at the local grocery store. He also met his “honey bun” Judy Tommerup.

Mike moved to Missoula in 1968 to attend the business school at the University of Montana. Mike proposed to Judy in 1969, and they were married on June 20, 1970. Not only did Mike marry the love of his life, but he gained another big loving family. The Tommerups were always very special to Mike, and he, his father-in-law Alvin and Judy’s five brothers spent many hours playing smear, pinochle, and cribbage together.

In Missoula, daughter Heather was born on March 30, 1971. In 1973, the young family moved to Helena, and Mike began working for the State of Montana Department of Labor, where he remained a dedicated employee until his retirement in 2006. In 1975, the Coiberts moved to Townsend.  Son Matthew was born on November 14, 1976. Mike and Judy, an elementary school teacher, raised their children in Townsend and lived in their house overlooking Canyon Ferry for the rest of their lives.

Mike greatly loved the Townsend community. Sometimes to Judy’s dismay, he participated in bowling leagues all winter and golf leagues all summer. He was a dedicated volunteer in the March of Dimes and in the Lions. Lion Mike could be found manning the corn dog wagon during rodeo weekend,  working the Lions’ basketball tournament, or running the annual perch derby. He was actively involved in Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church, and his church family was very important to him. Mike was an example of how to love others. He would often visit people in the hospital, take food to people who had lost a loved one, and drive people to their doctor’s appointments.

Mike’s greatest joy was his family. He doted on his wife and children and eventually his grandchildren – Heather and Jeff’s sons, Alec, born in 1997, and Michael, born in 2000, and Matt and Geneva’s daughter Delanie, born in 2005.  In 2008, Fiona Nelson became a bonus granddaughter when Mike and Judy began babysitting her as an infant. Mike encouraged his grandchildren in school and all of their activities. He was their biggest fan. Grandpa Mike and his grandchildren had a secret code, tapping their hearts to show their love whether preparing to bat, to throw a shot put, or to serve a volleyball. Grandpa never failed to show up with a note of encouragement and a box of candy at the end of every successful school semester.

Mike was preceded in death by his beloved wife Judy, his parents, brother Don Colbert, brother-in-law Doug Tommerup, and his newborn daughter Katherine.  He is survived by daughter Heather (Jeff) Nehring of Manhattan, son Matthew (Geneva) Colbert of Belgrade, grandchildren Alec (Anna) Nehring, Michael (Lauren) Nehring, and Delanie Colbert, brothers Phil (Jann) Colbert of Helena, Dave (Nancy) Colbert of Eureka, and sister Leota (John) Fred of Bozeman, brothers-in-law Randy (Helen), Terry (Cathy), Jeff (Connie), Brian (Angie) and sister-in-law Joan as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, January 9, at 1:00 at Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church in Townsend. In lieu of flowers, please send memorials to Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church, 301 N. Cherry, Townsend, MT 59644.

Service Schedule

Memorial Service

1:00 p.m.

Friday January 9, 2026

Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church

301 N. Cherry Street

Townsend, Montana 59644

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