Michael Harris O’Brien

Michael Harris O’Brien

Michael Harris O’Brien, 80, was born on January 11th 1945 in Los Angeles California to Richard and Katherine O’Brien. He passed away where he was raised much of his younger life in Butte, Montana on November 15, 2025.

Mike grew up in Butte, graduating from Butte High School in 1963. His interests varied widely from being a voracious reader (western novels, military history, geology and many other subjects of interest) to being a firearms enthusiast, building model planes and ships. He shared a love of model trains with his dad, and they spent many hours building and finishing model train landscapes for their model trains to travel. Mike had a lifelong fascination with planes and trains, as well as a love of the outdoors, hiking the hills in his youth. Earlier in life Mike also served proudly in the Montana National Guard for several years.

Mike was a music lover as well and could routinely be found listening to LPs of The Beach Boys, Johnny Cash, Marty Robbins, Johnny Horton and many MANY others. Mike had a very respectable vinyl record collection. In his later years, he developed a love of jigsaw puzzles as well as they appealed to his meticulous nature and seemingly bottomless well of patience.

Mike worked for the Anaconda Mining Company for many years in Butte and later in Anaconda until it’s closing in the early 1980s. Mike then made the decision to broaden his horizons and career opportunities by furthering his education. He attended the Butte Vocational Technical School and acquired a degree in Licensed Practical Nursing. Mike then began his nursing career at Montana State Hospital in Warm Springs as a med nurse retiring from there after more than 20 years of loyal and professional service to the state and countless hospital residents.

His nursing skills would later prove helpful when caring for his wife Lonnie for many years as she battled Muscular Sclerosis.

After a brief earlier marriage, Mike would find his true life partner when he married La Lonnie Dye in 1977. They would make their home in the small and close-knit community of Opportunity, Montana.

Lonnie would precede in death after more than 30 years of marriage. Also preceding him in death would be his parents and brother-in-law Milt Knuckles. He is survived by his son and constant companion of many years Renni O’Brien, his step daughter Lanora Stigen, his older sister Carolyn Knuckles and younger sister Melissa and her husband Mitch Mitchell. Also numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

At his request no formal services are planned. His desire was cremation and for his ashes to be scattered at a location near and dear to his heart at a later date.

May you Rest In Peace Dad...you have most definitely earned it.