Michael "Mick" Swartz

Michael Mick Swartz, 68, of Forest Green, MT, passed away on July 31, 2014, south of Neihart driving the car he loved.Graveside services will be held at Cottonwood Bench Cemetery, Cottonwood Coulee Road, Stockett, MT, on Wednesday, August 6, 2014, at 11:00 a.m. He will be laid to rest along with his soul mate, Barb Gunderson, who he cared for deeply. If you would like to participate in a special burial ceremony, please bring a shovel. A celebration of life will immediately follow the service at the Sand Coulee Fire Hall, Sand Coulee, MT. Schnider Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.Mick was born on November 6, 1945 in Great Falls, to Charlie and Marjorie (Tintinger) Swartz. He attended several of the Stockett area schools including Selstrom, Stockett, and Centerville. As a student attending Selstrom School he could honestly say he walked a mile to school and it was uphill both ways. As the oldest son he grew up working on the family ranch. He obtained his first official job in high school delivering eggs from the family ranch, where he met his first wife Marla (Patterson) Swartz, marrying her, the mother of his children, in 1966. He married Sue Culliton in 1976. He later married Charlene Bolton in 2000.He attended 1years of school studying accounting at the College of Great Falls. He was a PFC in the Army in 1966 and worked as a cook and an office clerk, clocked typing 127 WPM on a manual German typewriter. He served in the reserves until 1972. After the Army he delivered propane for Klasners Fuel & Oil in Stockett. He worked as a ranch hand at the Oxbow Ranch in Wolf Creek for several years. He then moved on to Bison Motors as an apprentice mechanic. He went to work at UPS in the 1970s as a mechanic in Great Falls he was promoted to Mechanical Supervisor in Kalispell in the 1980s, and ended his career as the Fleet Manager for UPS, retiring in 2007.Mick belonged to several organizations including the ORVE, which he established, the Kings Hill Grooming Association, and the MCSC/GFSC County Snowmobile Clubs. He was an avid snowmobiler and outdoor recreation advocate and proudly displayed a photo of himself with Dale Jarrett taken while working at UPS. Mick was musically gifted, he was self-taught, learning by ear to play the accordion and piano and shared his talent with several of his siblings, his own children and grandchildren. His music will be missed by many.Some say Mick was born with his mechanical skills, although he did have some formal training. However, if resources werent available, he could fix anything with duct tape! And let us not forget the creative genius of a man that built a shop out of trees on his property and recycled Artic Cat shipping boxes. Mick was frugal and wasted nothing. He was very organized and knew where everything was located, as any visitor could attest, with tool slots outlined on pegboard on the shop walls.There wasnt a thing Mick wouldnt do for his friends. His door was always open for any friend, and he was up for any spontaneous weekend activities spent with them. He plowed snow for his neighbors and the Mizpah Lodge, cut dead trees for the entire area, as well as monitored the nearby properties. Any Saturday afternoon he could be found at Forest Green. He was known for his bartering skills, the cheapest labor in town with a case of Oly for a days wage. He loved to go back to the family ranch to help his brother Jim with branding and summer fallowing. Jim in turn would go help Mick cut down trees. They worked well togetherMick was gentle, kind, and generous like his mom; and strong like his dad with an exceptional work ethic. He would loan anything, his tools, his vehicles, his time, and his ear. He always made people feel welcome and was non-judgmental. Family was important to him and he loved them dearly.He is survived by his children, Lisa (Bob) Scott of Choteau, and their children Ashley (Marty) Bouma, their grandchildren, Gabriel and Oliver; Jessica Bach and her grandchild Emma; Cassandra Swartz of Great Falls and her children Gage and Felicia Sappington; Michael (Melanie) Swartz of Great Falls, and their children Olivia, Max, and Jack;. siblings Maxine (Alvin) Jarvi of Fort Collins, CO; Catherine Avery of Ontario, OR; Gary Swartz of Great Falls; Roseanne (Mike) Mattson of Lynnwood, WA; Jim (Roxanne) Swartz of Stockett; Rita (Jim) Alderman of Lame Deer; Janet (Tim) Cameron of Great Falls; and Debbie (Creyton) Langendorff of Ulm; 16 nieces and nephews; as well as some great nieces and nephews; and numerous friends that loved him dearly!He was preceded in death by his parents, Charlie and Marjorie (Tintinger) Swartz; an infant sister Louise; toddler brother Richard; and nephew Richard Bowers.In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Kings Hill Grooming Association, 1111 Smelter Ave NE, Black Eagle, MT 59414, or your choice of area recreational groups.