Obituary: Michael Pease

Michael Pease

Powell, Wyo.

Michael Marion Pease passed away at home on November 23, 2024 of cancer.

He was born on February 8, 1948 in Billings, Mont. to Fellows (F.D.) Pease and Beatrice Lillian Pease (nee Ockert). He briefly lived in Lodge Grass, Mont. and Wind River, Wyo. before moving to Powell, Wyo. where he grew up and went to school. Michael had three younger siblings, a sister Delores, and brothers David and Francis.

Michael was a proud member of the Crow Tribe.

Michael moved to New Rockford, N.D. after high school graduation and bought a truck. He made his living hauling grain to the port at Duluth, Minn. In 1973 he married Paulette Berglund and adopted her daughter Sarah. When Paulette died in 1976, he moved back to Wyoming and married Roseanne Schmidt. They had one daughter, Molly. In 1979 he married Donella Bassett and helped raise her two daughters, Barbara and Kasey. Together Michael and Donella bought a homestead outside of Powell. After retiring from trucking, Michael started a business selling coal and coal stokers.

Michael and Donella helped raise their granddaughter Alyssa, who was the apple of her Grandpa's eye from the day she was born. He also enjoyed taking care of his grandson Pierce.

Michael's favorite book was "T-Model Tommy" by Stephan W. Meader. He collected all of Meader's books and reread them for years. They inspired both his love of trucking and of everything old, including vehicles. He belonged to both old car and old tractor clubs and loved attending steam threshing events.

Michael was a lifelong learner. He was always reading books or magazines or newspapers. And he liked to travel. He enjoyed car shows, historic sites, factories, museums, fairs, parks and the mountains – especially the mountains!

But Michael's greatest passion was people. He made friends everywhere he went. He spent endless hours on the phone talking to coal and stoker customers. He loved eating out with family and friends groups and never missed an opportunity, even when he was very ill and in pain. Donella was the love of his life and he wanted to be sure she could do everything she enjoyed, as well.

Michael will be greatly missed by all his friends and his family and especially by his wife Donella and by his grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his first wife and he is survived by his wife, his children, his grandchildren and his siblings.

Michael's memorial event will be on Monday, Dec. 2 at 1 p.m. at the Commons at Pond Park at 135 N. Bent Street in Powell, Wyo. Casual attire.