Mike and Ann Torpy, both 6105/20 & 06/15/1947 ~ 03/12/2009
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Mike and Ann Torpy, both 61, died tragically on the afternoon of March 12, 2009, in a traffic accident near Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
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Mike was the first child of Thomas F. and Marian Torpy, born on May 20, 1947, in Kalispell. Raised in Butte, he attended Immaculate Conception Grade School and Butte High School, graduating in 1965. He went on to study at Montana Tech, Carroll College and graduated from Montana State University with a degree in microbiology.
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At Utah State University he attended graduate school, earning a master’s degree in microbiology and a doctorate in environmental engineering, as well as a master’s of business administration.
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Before attending graduate school, he served in the Army from 1971 to 1973.
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He was employed as an engineering manager at Hawk Consulting/Alyeska Pipeline at the time of his death.
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An avid outdoorsman, he enthusiastically fished the lakes, rivers, streams of Alaska. Mike also enjoyed Irish history, home brewing, attending Irish gatherings in Anchorage, and playing the button accordion.
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Ann was born on June 15, 1947, in Townsend, to Joseph and Rose Devine. She obtained her high school diploma in Great Falls, and received her bachelor of arts in elementary education from Carroll College, Helena. Later she earned another bachelor of arts as a Montessori teacher. She was teaching at Denali Elementary in Anchorage as a Montessori teacher.
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Ann’s many passions included her children (family and students), knitting, cooking, walking and reading.
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Mike and Ann were married in Great Falls, on Aug. 22, 1970, and lived in various cities in the United States. In 1996, they settled with their family In Anchorage.
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Forever cherished, Mike and Ann are sadly missed by their children, Kevin Joseph (Jennifer) and Eamonn Jakob (their first grandchild), Matthew Thomas (Jennifer), Conor Michael (Sherry), Stephanie Ann, Kathleen Rose.
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Ann was preceded in death by her father, Joseph Devine. She is survived by her mother, Rose, Great Falls; sister, Cathy Jupka (Jim), and Karen, John and Dan, Bozeman; brother, Pat (Jereice) Karen and Thomas, Bozeman; and brother, Dennis (Lisa) and Joseph, Justin and Kelly, Great Falls; as well as numerous cousins in Alaska and Iowa.
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Mike was preceded in death by his mother, Marian, and his brother, Dan.
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He is survived by his father, Thomas F. Torpy; sister, Peggy Riordan (Emmett), Mollie, Ryan, and Matthew; brother, Tom; sister, Jayne Honey (Dean), Teresa Knott and Brenan Honey; sisterinlaw, Eileen Torpy, (Jon and Monica), (Ben and Ursula), (Danielle and Bob); cousins, JoAnn and Ralph Anderson,Sister Lynn Lester, Jim and Wilene Lester, Rick and Nancy Foote, Lori and Gary Paull, Ed and Patty Armstrong, and Michelle Malkovich, as well as numerous other cousins in the U.S. and in Ireland
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A memorial service will be held at noon Wednesday, March 18, with visitation at 11 a.m. at the Immaculate Conception Church in Butte.
A memorial celebration will also be held in Anchorage, Alaska, on March 22.
A memorial Mass will be offered in CarrickonSuir, County Tipperary, Ireland.
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Memorials: Stephanie and Katie Torpy college fund, c/o 1401 Gwenn Dr., Anchorage, Alaska 99501, or to a charity of donor’s choice.
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GUEST BOOK:
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Peggy Walters wrote on March 23, 2009:
Jane,
My mother informed me of the death of Mike and his wife. Though I haven't seen you since grade school, I am thinking of you and your family and sending my prayers. God Bless.
Peg Walters
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Marianne Dewing Moe (emmmoe@aol.com) wrote on March 20, 2009:
Rose, Kathy and all,
Please accept my sincere condolences. Ann and I were roommates all through Carroll and in each other's weddings. She was a dear dear friend as was Mike. We had not been in each others lives since they moved from Chicago but that friendship was always in our hearts. I had so hoped to reconnect with them this year. Please know that you are in our prayers and thoughts. Marianne and Family.
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Peggy O'Neill Wolff (peggywolff@cox.net) wrote on March 19, 2009:
Tommy,
So sorry to hear about your brother and Ann. I remember them fondly from our early years. Take care.
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Lori Martinich (lmartinich@bresnan.net) wrote on March 19, 2009:
Peg, Emmett, & Family, Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time. Pat Starcevich & Lori Martinich
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Benjamin and Ursula Torpy (ubtorpy@msn.com) wrote on March 19, 2009:
Mike and Ann will be sorely missed as the finest sorts humanity has to offer. For so long we have looked up to them as the model example of a strong marriage, loving parents and, for me personally, an eversupportive aunt and uncle. I feel blessed that I was able to see Mike in February and that my son Thomas met him for the first and only time then. Thomas now has a healthy addiction to Doritos on account of Mike's intervention into his melancholy over his presence at Grandpa's house (which he now loves). Grandpa Tom, I know that this is a foul strike by the fates to a man who has weathered as many years as yourself, but I need you to remain strong, if not for yourself, then for my own sake. Tommy, Peg, and Jane, ever strong as you are, accept my condolences at the loss of a sibling. Equally, please hang in there cousins Kevin, Matt, Connor, Stephanie and Katey. We, the family, will help to bear the enormous weight of grief that has been deposited on our shoulders by the authors of this tragedy, but your shoulders will bear the lion's share despite our best intentions. I'm sorry we couldn't be there. Ursula and I are praying for the family as this wound cuts deep into our hearts.
Love Ben, Ursula, Thomas and Sophia
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Lynn Lester (lynn.lester@clarke.edu) wrote on March 18, 2009:
I send my prayers and blessings to you as you mourn the death of your parents. My heart goes out to you in deepest sympathy. Mike was a dear cousin to me. I took care of him when Marion and Tom went square dancing. Ann and I always enjoyed talking about teaching. My remembrance of Mike and Ann is that they were joyfully happy together and so proud of their children.
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Larry Bowser (lt_bowser@sbcglobal.net) wrote on March 18, 2009:
I feel blessed that I grew up on the same street as Mike and our time together from Kindergarten on. I will always remember his big friendly smile every time we would meet again in Butte or Alaska. He will be missed. I want to express my Sincere Condolences to Mike & Ann's Families from all of my family.
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Ed & Patti Armstrong (epjal@msn.com) wrote on March 18, 2009:
To Tom and all the Torpys'
Mike and Anne's loss is hard to comprehend, but we know that their time on earth was filled with happiness and joy in their own lives and lives of everyone they touched in their time here on earth.
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David & Lisa Goldsworthy (eden.goldsworthy@gmail.com) wrote on March 18, 2009:
Jayne,Dean,Tom,Tommy,Peg and Family:
We are so very saddened by your tragic loss. Know that you are in our thoughts and prayers.
Much Love David & Lisa
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Debbie Malkovich Putnam (putnamd@billings.k12.mt.us) wrote on March 18, 2009:
I did not know this had happened until last night when Carolyn called to tell me. My deepest sympathy. I remember Mike in our childhood and have great memories of both he and Ann. They are in my prayers.
Love Debbie
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Bill & Mickee Rogers (billnmick@cableone.net) wrote on March 18, 2009:
Peggy and Emmett,
We are so sorry to hear of your loss. You will be in our prayers.
Bill & Mickee
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Tammie Celli (tjcelli@hotmail.com) wrote on March 18, 2009:
I am deeply saddened to hear of your great loss. In your time of healing, trust in God to help you through. You all are in our thoughts and prayers. Love, Tammie & Kaleb Celli
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Lisa Pesanti (mtmxmom1067@gmail.com) wrote on March 18, 2009:
Dear Emmett and Peggy and Family,
I am so sorry for the tragic loss of your brother and sister in law. It is always such a
shock to lose loved ones so suddenly. My thoughts an prayers are with all of you.
May your prescious memories of their lives ease your loss.
Sincerely,
Lisa Pesanti, Bob Johns
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Keith and Diane Honey (honeyfam@aol.com) wrote on March 18, 2009:
Jayne,Dean,Tom,Tommy,Peg and Family:
We are so saddened by the loss of Mike and Ann. They were both such great people and were so kind and generous to everyone. Please know that you are in our thoughts and prayers.
Keith and Diane
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Mary Lou Fitzpatrick (blufitzpatrick@aol.com) wrote on March 17, 2009:
To the Torpy Family,
I am very sorry for your loss! May God hold you in the palm of His hand in this trying time. I was a classmate of Mike and then Tom at IC. I had a very nice visit with him in uptown Butte last summer as he talked about his life in Alaska. He was excited about taking his dad up to Alaska for a visit. It was very good to see him after many years. I will keep you in my prayers.
Mary Lou Fitzpatrick
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Lori Strah Gittens (xrayiz@bresnan.net) wrote on March 17, 2009:
Peggy (and family) -
am so sorry to hear about your brother and his wife. I remember how much fun you had going to visit them years ago when they lived in Logan. Please know that my thoughts and prayers are with you all. Please take care, and God bless.
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Tana (Davis) Loessberg (tanaloessberg@hotmail.com) wrote on March 17, 2009:
To the Torpy Family,
I am so very sad to hear of the loss of Mike and Ann. I am glad that in the past year we were able to catch up on Mike's life and see what a wonderful family he and Ann raised. He was so proud of them. My deepest sympathies to all of you.
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Oak's Mom and Dad (rometcalfe@yahoo.com) wrote on March 17, 2009:
Kevin, we are so so sorry about this horrible tragedy. It is so sad that your little guy will grow up not knowing his grandparents. Hopefully, you can share all of your happy memories with him. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and all of your loved ones.
Bob and Rose Lee Metcalfe
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Randy & Sharon (Hastings) Guizzo (guizzo3@msn.com) wrote on March 17, 2009:
Torpy Family,
From all of the Hastings Family, please accept our deepest sympathies during this time. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you.
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jack obrien (ebt2@gci.net) wrote on March 17, 2009:
Peggy and families I am very sad to learn of this. Peggy I met Mike in Anchorage at a basketball game. Reminded me of you and made me smile. God bless you all.
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bob and donna (galpin1@bresnan.net) wrote on March 17, 2009:
tom peggy and all the family, we are sorry about your loss.ourprayers will be with you all. GOD BLESS
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Jim and Sue Polich (jtp@bresnan.net) wrote on March 17, 2009:
Dear Mr. Torpy, Tom, Janie and Peggy...This is terrible news. I hope you all find the strength to get through another, sad tragedy. Good luck to you all, our prayers are with you.
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John and Pam Logsdon (jdlpal@comcast.net) wrote on March 17, 2009:
Our hearts are broken for Kevin, Matthew, Conor, Stephanie and Katie. The Torpy's were our neighbors and friends in Woodinville, WA. Our boys were best friends and still are. We have so many fond memories of two very special people. We will miss them dearly.
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Gary & Vina Dugan wrote on March 17, 2009:
Dear Tom, Peg, Tom, Jayne, & Family,
Please accept our deepest sympathy. It is so sad to loose those we love, but know that they are in God's hands! Our prayers and thoughts are with you all.
Vina & Gary
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Linda (Davis) Dixon (corvettejd@comcast.net) wrote on March 17, 2009:
Tom,Tommy,Jayne and Peggy:
I cannot begin to express the sorrow and sympathy I feel over the sudden passing of Mike and Ann. I was reunited with my "Oldest Friend" thru email this past year, where he reminded me of all the wonderful experiences of growing up in Butte. His generous heart and kindness was so alive. I know how proud he was of his Family and the excitement of being a Grandpa. The Torpy's wil always be like 2nd Family..my deepest sympathy to Tom and Family.
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Leaona Doyle Anderwald (anderw04@rfwave.net) wrote on March 17, 2009:
Tom and Torpy Family: I am so sorry about the loss of your brother and sisterinlaw. You are in my thoughts and prayers. Leaona
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Cheryl duToit (cdutoit@mtech.edu) wrote on March 17, 2009:
Peggy, Emmett & Family I am so very sorry for another loss of a loved one in your family. You are all in my prayers and I will be seeing you at the visitation and the funeral. May God and the Holy Spirit bless you with the peace of knowing that both Mike and Ann are surrounded by the love of God and all of his angels now and are completely at peace. With Love, Cheryl and Girls
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Glen & Patti Rafish wrote on March 17, 2009:
Peggy, Emmett & Family, we are so very sorry for the loss of your brother and sisterinlaw. Keeping you in our thoughts.
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Laura Lee Dunlap wrote on March 17, 2009:
Peggy and entire Torpy family: Just wanted to let you know, I am so sorry for the loss of your brother and his wife.
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Rob Foote (Rfoote@flymissoula.com) wrote on March 17, 2009:
I took my confirmation name from Mike. As a young boy in Butte,Mike was my hero cousin. Always kind with whatever time and attention you needed from him.I did not know him as an adult but as our uncle Joe would always say he was a good son of bitchin kid.
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Mike McArthur (oocheniver@msn.com) wrote on March 17, 2009:
Mike was a good childhood friend, as were his brothers and sisters.His life was as predictably full and worthwhile as his youth. Condolences to his family
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Oak (rmetcalfe@mt.gov) wrote on March 17, 2009:
My heart goes out to Kevin, Peggy, and all of the Torpy clan. You were the first group of people I met when I moved to Butte many years ago and welcomed me heartily. I am so sorry for your loss.
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