Michael "Mike" Zuhoski

Michael Mike F. Zuhoski, 79, of Belt, passed away on Friday, March 28, 2014.A rosary will be held on Tuesday, April 1, 2014 at 7:00 p.m. at Hillcrest Lawn Memorial Chapel. A funeral liturgy will be held on Wednesday, April 2, 2014 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Marks Catholic Church. Schnider Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.Mike was born to Pete and Agnes Zuhoski on September 30, 1934 in Great Falls, Montana. He was raised in Belt, Montana and graduated from Belt Valley High School in 1952. After graduating from high school he began working at the Anaconda Refinery in Great Falls until it closed in September 1980. He also held second jobs at the Great Falls Meat Packing Plant, Baylors Ice Cream Parlor, and Gamers Bakery. Along with being a volunteer fireman with the Belt Volunteer Fire Department he was also the town marshal. He worked for the Belt "public" School system until his retirement. He and Marge also delivered the Great Falls Tribune to the Belt/Armington area for 24 years. He joined the Montana Air National Guard in December 1952, retiring in May 1973 as a Tech Sergeant.He married Marjorie Nedved on September 14, 1957. Together they had six children. This began his lifelong devotion to family and community. Living in the same town in which he grew up and graduated from he served for 35 years as a city councilman, volunteer fireman, and a senior citizen board member.Dads dedication to his family required him to work long hours. After his retirement he began to relax while helping Mom with her daycare. They involved us children in 4-H, serving as 4-H leaders for over 22 years. Dad provided guidance to all the kids in the community. Annually the 4-H kids would deliver Christmas baskets while singing Christmas Carols. Working with us on 4-H projects allowed him to develop his love for gardening. Dad took great pride in his flowers and vegetables. Due to his love of flowers the family requests wearing colorful outfits at the service. Along with his passion for gardening was his passion for his fathers tradition of holiday yard decorating. Dad decorated his yard in Belt for 45 Christmases; hanging lights, building scenes, and displaying the manger every year carrying on the tradition of his father.Dads faith gave him strength to endure many heartaches; losing his parents and in laws prepared him and his faith for the devastating loss of his oldest daughter, Theresa Terry. Through her death dads dedication to family and his faith only grew. His example has grown in each of us children, and this is the only reason we will thrive without him.Mike is survived by his wife of 56 years, Marjorie; sons, Tom and Mike Zuhoski of Belt; daughters Pati (Donald) Foynes, Pam Zuhoski, and Paula Loving all of Helena; grandchildren Vanessa Loving, Angie (Chris) Beuthien, Kimberly Loving, James Jim Loving, Paul Michael Foynes, Tracy Zuhoski, Tyler Zuhoski, and Tucker Zuhoski; great-grandson Liam Beuthien; brother Don (Sharon) Zuhoski and sister Phyllis (Don) Rowekamp both of Great Falls; brother-in-law Bob (Carol) Nedved of Spokane, WA; numerous nieces and nephews; and numerous adopted children.He was preceded in death by his daughter, Theresa, his parents, Pete and Agnes; and his mother and father-in-law Mary and James Nedved.In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Belt Volunteer Ambulance Service or the Belt Senior Center, Belt, MT.The family would like to thank the Belt Volunteer Ambulance crew and the staff at Park Place, Dr. Addison, Mary Gray, Dr. Prambi, Dr. Lake, Dr. Church, and Dr. Rowe.