Lowell Panasuk, 62

Lowell Panasuk was born Dec. 9, 1959, to Andrew and Leona Panasuk in Deer Lodge, Montana. On Feb. 7, 2022, he died suddenly of a heart attack while out on his mail route. He was a mailman for 22 years.

Lowell grew up in Butte alongside his three siblings and lifelong friends. He graduated from Butte High in 1978. He was proudly the “flanker” for the Butte High Bulldogs football team. They won the Class AA state championship in 1977. After high school and between semesters, Lowell worked in the oil fields to pay for college. He lived in his car at times and traveled wherever there was work. He attended Montana Tech, Montana State University, and graduated from the University of Montana in 1984.

After college, he and his two best friends sat in the Paradise Bar in Butte, rolled the dice, and decided to move to Denver. He worked as a landscaper in Denver before working for Porter McLeod Construction. The Labor Day Golf Tournament brought Lowell home to Butte every year and that weekend in 1991 at the Laz’t Call Bar, he met his wife, Laurie Levengood. She sat on his lap and he asked her to be his wife. They were married on Aug. 28, 1993, in Bigfork. Together they built the Deli and raised their three children in Columbia Fall.

Lowell loved his kids and he always made sure they knew it. He took pride in always being there for them. As they grew up and moved away, he always made time to stop by wherever they were in life to buy them lunch and hand them a hundred dollar bill as he said goodbye.

Lowell planned to retire on March 31, 2022. He was so excited to have time to do all of the things he loved to do. He was always in for a round of golf with good friends, a card game, a trip up to the cabin, a few hours at a Keno machine, a Kansas City Chiefs football game, a cup of Baileys and coffee, and a nice dinner out with his family. Lowell had friends in all places. He loved to tell a good story and to make people laugh. Lowell was a simple guy and he genuinely enjoyed life. He left us too soon.

Lowell is survived by his wife Laurie and their three kids Maggie, Sadie and L.J. He is also survived by his mother-in-law, Arlene Levengood; his siblings, Les Panasuk and DaNette Rule; in-laws Sandy and Randy O’Connell, Debbie and Joe Sidor, Christine and Steve Blair, and Karla and Dewy Swank. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews and friends he considered family.

Lowell was preceded in death by his parents, Andrew and Leona Panasuk, his brother Lane, sister-in-law Laurie, father-in-law Chris Levengood, and brother-in-laws, Scott and Abe Levengood.

There will be a vigil service with rosary on Friday, Feb. 11, at 6 p.m. at Columbia Mortuary in Columbia Falls. A graveside service will be held Saturday, Feb. 12, at 10 a.m. at C.E. Conrad Memorial Cemetery in Kalispell. A reception will be held from 11:30 to 3 p.m. at the Back Room of the Nite Owl in Columbia Falls. All are welcome.

Lowell was an active member of the Flathead Valley Shrine Club. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Flathead Valley Shrine Club at P.O. Box 762, Kalispell, MT, 59903.

Columbia Mortuary in Columbia Falls is caring for the family.