Michael Francis Lawler

Michael F Lawler, 80, of Glendive, Montana passed away on Sunday, May 10, 2026 at his home on hospice care with Glendive Medical Center. Funeral Service will be held at 11 AM, Thursday, May 21, 2026, at Silha Funeral Home in Glendive with Pastor Chuck Rushing officiating. Interment with military honors will follow in Dawson County Cemetery. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. Silha Funeral Home of Glendive has been entrusted with arrangements. Michael was born October 31st, 1945, to Vincent and Esther (Amen) Lawler in Los Angelas, California. He grew up in California with his parents and older sister Pat. During school years he attended an all-boys catholic boarding school. He always told stories of being taught by the nuns and priests. After high school Michael enlisted in the United States Air Force on November 5th, 1962. He served most of his time in the Pacific on Johnson Island as a radio equipment repairman. He says it is still there just doesn’t look the same according to Google Earth. After his time in the Air Force, he went back to California. There he reconnected with his friend Judy that he met while in the Air Force. They married and moved to Phoenix, AZ where he started school at the University of Arizona. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in science. After school he and Judy had two children. After Judy and Michael were divorced, Michael met Donna. They were engaged to be married by tragically she passed away before they were married. After her death Michael moved back to California. He attended for a short time at the University of California to receive a certificate in computer science and programming. From there he started working for TRW, and while working here he got to work on the Stealth Bombers. Michael met his last true love, Mary. After deciding they did not want to raise the children in California and wanted to be closer to family, they moved to Pocatello, ID. Here Michael attended University of Idaho where he received a degree in computer programming. He and Mary lived together until 1999, when they got married and moved to Helena, MT. In Helena, Michael worked for the state. While working for the state,e he had his most proud professional moment. He built a program that merged two databases. After the state had cutbacks Michael and Mary moved to Reno, NV then to Boise, ID until 2013 when they made their final move to Glendive, MT to be closer to their daughter Katie and son-in-law. Michael always felt Montana was home. He loved the outdoors, the wide-open spaces, and all the animals that you could see. He loved the slower pace of Montana which fit his personality well. When Michael was younger, he trained in Karate which he tried to teach his kids some while they were growing up. Michael’s favorite hobbies were camping, fishing and guns. He loved going to the Trails End Indoor Gun Range by Makoshika State Park. Here he would teach Katie about the new guns he bought and have her try different ones because he always said she needed the right one to carry in her purse when she was alone. He met a lot of good people at the gun range he enjoyed talking to. He enjoyed having family dinners with Mary, Katie and Matt, but also loved the big get-togethers we would have. He would always sit and talk to Matt about their latest gun buys or gun wants. He loved his children and all the added in children that came in forms of in-laws. He was proud of each of them in different ways no matter what they did. He was an animal lover but mostly dogs. Never did Mary and Michaels house not have a dog. Let’s just say he has a lot of dogs waiting for him in Heaven so they can get the right treatment, cause even Heaven can’t treat a dog like Michael did. He was proceeded in death by his parents, his sister Pat, and his beloved Mary. He is survived by his Son Tim Lawler, daughter Lisa (Jay) Lawler, stepdaughter Katie (Matt) Jirsa, granddaughter Paige (Gary) Blair, grandson Shane Lawler, great grandchildren, Taven and Salem, countless nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews. Remembrances and condolences can be shared with the family at: www.silhafuneralhomes.com.

Michael Francis Lawler

October 31, 1945 - May 10, 2026

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Michael Francis Lawler

October 31, 1945 - May 10, 2026

What We Do

Flowers & Gifts

Plan Ahead

About Us

Resources

Obituaries

Grief & Healing

Contact Information

365 Days of Grief Support