Michael Lee Newgard, 68

Michael “Mike” Lee Newgard was born July 12, 1948, to Leland and Neva Jones Newgard in St. Ignatius. He grew up and attended schools in Polson, graduating from Polson High School in 1966.

After graduating from high school he attended Northern Montana College before enlisting in the Army. He served in Korea. There he married a young Korean woman named Son Cha “Sonny.” After being discharged they moved back to Polson and purchased the Main Street Market. It was there that their sons Shawn and Aaron were born. Two more baby boys died in infancy.

In the late ‘70s they sold the store and Mike reenlisted in the Army and was stationed at several bases in the U.S.

In 1986 Mike’s wife Sonny passed away. After leaving the Army he worked in the public sector. For the last several years he lived in Great Falls before moving to Troy, Alabama, to be closer to his sons.

On Feb.1, 2017, Mike “passed to the other side,” his family by his side, after valiantly fighting cancer.

Mike’s memory is cherished by his sons, Shawn (Cass) of Chesapeake, Virginia, and Aaron (Kim) of Troy, Alabama, and a stepson B.J. of Boise, Idaho; his grandchildren; his sister, Kathy Newgard Gipe Barber, of Lakeside; numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, cousins; and many friends.

Memorials are suggested to the Disabled American Veterans.

A celebration of Mike’s life will be planned for this coming spring.