Michael Edward Ramsbacher

Michael Edward Ramsbacher of Helena, Mont., died at Fort Harrison VA Hospital on Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022, surrounded by his family. He was 61 years old.

A celebration of life will be held Tuesday, July 4. Services will be at 1 p.m. July 3, at the Veterans Cemetery at Fort Harrison, Mont.

Mike was born on Sept. 8, 1961, in Glasgow, Mont., to Charles and Kathleen Ramsbacher. Mike started school in Fort Peck, Mont., but later moved to Nashua, Mont. He spent his early years fishing, hunting, boating and swimming with friends and everything Montana had to offer including drives to Fort Peck and the Dredge Cuts. In high school he played football and threw javelin in track.

Mike grew up with his twin sisters, Debbie and Cindy, and his brother Jim. Mike left for the Air Force after high school from 1979-1980. When Mike came back in 1984 he worked for MTDOT in Glasgow and Jordan where he met Michelle Galla. They married on Jan. 19, 1985, and had three children Stephen, Kaitlin and Brittany. He drove trucks in Havre, Mont., where he worked alongside his closest friend Kenny and made the long days enjoyable. Mike and Michelle divorced years later.

In 2001 Mike became a full time army guard soldier and moved to Helena. In January 2006 Mike married Leslie Clark and welcomed her daughters, Ashley and Allison, into his life as his own. Even though he loved to joke that he "didn't even like kids" he was the best papa. Mike loved to spend time with his 13 grandchildren who followed him like the pied piper. Beginning a legacy of sharing his patented humor, interests, lessons and zest for life with them. Driving and flying miles to just spend important time gaining the memories they will remember for a lifetime.

He proudly served our country in the United States Air Force and the Montana Army National Guard for a total of 42 years and 10 months. In 2013 Mike deployed to Kuwait. He was awarded a number of accommodations throughout his career, most recently the Legion of Merit. Mike had a love of traveling, often taking trips to feed his other interests, like concerts, breweries and distilleries. He loved music and could name minute details of classics and one-hit-wonders. Mike enjoyed the outdoors, spending countless hours hiking, fishing, hunting, running marathons with friends and building the LMR Ranch that hosted family and friends throughout the years. His smile lit up a room, he was a wonderful storyteller and hardworking as they come. He will always be cherished by those who knew him with a wonderful sense of humor and once you are family, that's it, you are family.

Mike is preceded in death by his grandparents, Francis and Honora Ramsbacher, and Charles and Harriet Fralick; and his father, Charles Ramsbacher.

Mike is survived by his wife, Leslie Ramsbacher, Helena; sons, Stephen Ramsbacher (Solo Bernard), Glendale, Ariz., Andrew Ramsbacher, Helena; daughters, Kaitlin Ramsbacher and Brittany Ramsbacher (Josh Gossmeyer), Spokane Valley, Wash., Ashley Hirshfeld (Mickey Schlick), Missoula, Mont., and Allison Sanford (Travis Kamphuis), Minot, N.D.; grandchildren Kayleigh, Cadyn, Mikey, Dylan, Ashlynn, Ellie, Jayce, Piper, Jonathan, Charlie, Torin, Skyla, and Emmersyn; mother Kathleen Ramsbacher; sisters, Debbie Fauth (Mike Fauth) and Cindy Ramsbacher; and brother Jim Ramsbacher.