Michael Howard Hodsdon, 71

Michael Howard Hodsdon, 71, died suddenly on Sept. 23, 2024, of heart failure. He lived in Bigfork in the former home of his younger brother, Stephen Hodsdon. Michael's parents were Gladys Murphy Hodsdon and Howard Edward Hodsdon, and he was born in Hermon, Maine. Michael also had a sister, Patricia Johnson. He graduated from Hermon High School and went to diving school in Oakland, California, to be a commercial diver. After his education, he began working on projects nationwide, including Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Louisiana, Texas, Utah, and California. He also spent two years working in Peru from 1980 to 1982 constructing oil rigs and then a year in Saudi Arabia working with the Saudi Navy.  

1985, he bought a Cessna 182 and took it to the skies. Michael was an avid pilot, and his parents were very proud of this adventurous young man they had raised. He also loved boats and was interested in tugboats and sailboats. In 2006, he crewed on a tugboat from California, towing a second tugboat behind them to Boston. While working in the San Francisco Bay area, he came to know many sailboat owners looking for crew to assist on their cruises. He sailed up and down the California coast, down the coast of Baja to Cabo San Lucas, and over to Puerto Vallarta. He also sailed in Florida, the Bahamas, and Australia. 

Michael was willing to help anyone with just about anything. This was his lifelong habit, and all of us who knew him have been helped by Michael in one way or another.

He met his future wife, Teresa Gladys Walsh, 1985 in a campground in Rhode Island. They married in 1986 and soon moved to the West Coast, spending two years in California before settling in Eugene, Oregon. Their biggest joy was the birth and raising of their son, Seth Howard Walsh Hodsdon, in 1993. Michael frequently said that Seth was the best thing that had ever happened to him. Michael and Teresa divorced in 2007 after 21 years of marriage but remained connected by their love for Seth.

Another lasting interest of Michael's was his love of firearms. He and Stephen had been taught to shoot by their father. In 2021, Michael moved to Stephen's home in Bigfork and began firing with a local group of men called the "Whiskey Shooters." In the same way, they had embraced Stephen; they embraced Michael, and he had an instant group of friends.

He is survived by his son, Seth, and Seth’s wife, Melanie Kesner; half-sister Patricia Johnson; and his former wife, Teresa Walsh. 

A celebration of life for Michael will be held from 2-4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 12, at the A Bar, Michael’s favorite bar, at 11032 MT-83, in Bigfork.