Michael Kenneth Somers, 67

Michael Kenneth Somers passed away on Nov. 22, 2014, at the age of 67.

Mike was born in Vancouver, Wash., on Feb. 3, 1947, to Ken and Claire Somers. He was raised in Vancouver and graduated from Hudson's Bay High School in 1965. He also attended Clark College and Eastern Washington University.

He met his wife, Julie, during the summer of 1964. They were married in 1968. Mike was a Vietnam veteran, serving in the U.S. Air Force from 1967 to 1972.

He worked for the Clark County Planning Commission in Vancouver and the U.S. Forest Service prior to being offered a job at Grand Coulee Dam as a power plant operator. Mike and family moved from Coulee Dam, Wash., to Columbia Falls in 1978. He worked at Hungry Horse Dam, from which he retired in 2005.

He was a member of the Bad Rock Volunteer Fire Department and served as chief of the department from 1989 to 1992.

Mike was preceded in death by his parents.

He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Julie; daughters, Heather Feist and her family, Shawn, Kimberly and Logan, and Lindsay Somers and her family, Jerry, Garrett, Allie, Lexy and Destiny. He is also survived by his brother, Glenn Somers, and family of Vancouver, Joy Somers of Vancouver, John and Shirley Somers of Florida, and several cousins, nieces and a nephew.

Beneath his 6-foot-6-inch frame, Mike was a gentle soul. His favorite times were spent with family and friends. He loved camping with grandkids in Glacier Park, bike riding, gardening, fishing and hunting. He always said he could not imagine living in a more beautiful place than the Flathead Valley. He was a lover of kids, animals and nature. He enjoyed taking pictures of all types of things outdoors.

Services for Mike to celebrate his life will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 26, at Christ Lutheran Church in Whitefish.

Ice fishing will begin soon, and Mike would love it if, in lieu of flowers, you would take a child fishing! Donations can be made to a charity of your choice.

We will miss him, but have many wonderful memories! His legacy is having two beautiful daughters and his grandkids whom he loved so much.

Friends are encouraged to visit the website, www.buffalohillfh.com, to leave notes of condolence for the family. Buffalo Hill Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for the family.