Dear Carol, Ken and I are so sorry for your loss of Mike. We always enjoyed our visits at Boxelder, whether at our cabins or a stop on the road. He did seem to be a master of all things. We loved seeing him riding a 4-wheeler with black dog on the back. We are thankful for having known him. We’ll see you on the road.
Peggy and Ken Ball
Boxelder Canyon

~ Peggy Ball - October 14, 2022

Mike was a great guy and an awesome leader of our 4-H group ,The Critter Hoppers. I remember him helping my siblings and I with our horses and horsemanship. Sad to hear of this loss. May he Rest In Peace and hope his family finds some peace as well.

~ Nate Ritter - July 21, 2022

I am saddened to hear of Mikes passing and sorry this is so late. He was a great man and gave his heart and soul to my children Nate, Katti and Logan Ritter during their 4-H years. His kind heart and sometimes hardness on them (when they were dinkin around) gave them the desire to do well and his friendship shown to all of us newbies with horses and chickens will forever be in our hearts. Critter Hoppers will also remember him forever. Carol, Colleen and Kevin & family may you find peace with all of your memories that you shared and find comfort in knowing that someday you will all be together. Raise you glass and salute him!!!


Love
Darcy

~ Darcy Steinke - July 21, 2022

My condolences to all of you my dear cousins and friends miss you all wish I could be there to tell you a little bit about Mike and myself.. I remember when I was in fourth grade Mike was in eighth grade and we were playing full-court basketball in front of Saint Joseph Catholic school and for some reason Lil Jimmy Padamore Started boxing me in the face which made me very mad but I couldn’t do anything so at the top of my lungs I screamed MIKE.
In an instant Mike was there by my side and said what’s the matter?
He’s punching me in the face. Mike looked at him and Jimmy said we’re just playing around. Mike took me by the Arman took me away from him.

From eighth grade to 10th grade Mike and I traveled all over going to horse shows in grandpa Hardell Varrier Cattletruck.
Every Sunday morning Right after mass we loaded up all the horses and Mike Wood Drive wherever where we’re going.

I remember when I was a freshman and Mike was a senior we played football for Woonsocket Redman. Mike was not as big as other guards but he played right guard and never let any man pass it.
I remember one time the Letcher boys New Mike was tough in football and they did not like him. One night at a dance they threw a blanket over Mike and begin to beating him even under the blanket he started punching when the blanket came off those boys started running faster than ever.

I remember when I was 13 mom and dad Marvin and Mary Ellen Vearrier took the only vacation I remember them ever taken.
Mike and I had to feed and mouth the cows each morning and night.
The next day was Thanksgiving day and we finished up the chores fed the cows got in the car and started off to grandma and grandpa Hardell and Marie Vearrier‘s house about 10 miles away.
All the relatives would be there. On the way down a gravel road just before Julian Feistner house a calf about four months old was down in the left side ditch.
We could see it from far back but as we got closer the calf ran out in front of us.
The calf started running on the right side of the road and we swerved to the left side.
We were going between 50 and 60 mph and the rear end swang down into the ditch which was very steep.
Now we were going sideways and holding speed trying to get the rear wheels back up on the road.
Suddenly the rear wheels grab the road and drove us towards the right side ditch. Mike cranked the wheels and we were halfway into the ditch the front wheel grab dirt and the car stood up on its nose. It it turned over once and landed right side up. I looked at Mike he looked at me and he said are you OK?
I have a little pain in my stomach. He climbed out went around and helped me out by now the pain in my stomach was bad.
Mike help me up the driveway to the house. I said to Mike I have to go in and lay down I really don’t feel good.
Mike said no this is not on house. Mike laid me down in the porch then he went inside telephoned grandpa and everyone came quickly.
I remember Mike’s dad Francis and Patrick and Frank Doug and Wayne I don’t remember if Brad was there.
After that I must’ve passed out they loaded me took me to the hospital but I don’t remember anything until the next day when mom and dad woke me up in the hospital.
The doctor told my mother that I had internal bleeding from the liver and that I would have died if not the sack around the liver had not stopped the bleeding.
To this day if playing soccer I get hit in the stomach with the ball I feel that pain again.

You may not want to believe this but it’s true when a person gets cancer he has plenty of time to make reconciliation with God.
Like my mother Mary Ellen Vearrier and many others have done.
You will find the rosary becomes a great comfort. The doctors of the church say without Mary there is no salvation.

Over 100,000 times our lady has appeared to people and each time she has requested say the rosary if you want to save your soul.

I think you will enjoy this story. A protestant man died and Jesus was condemning him to hell when suddenly our lady appeared beside the man.
She said to Jesus,” my son you and your father have given me full privilege to save any soul who has devotion to me.

Yes mother but this man has used my name in vain he has used profanity cursing swearing and obscene language. And you know how much I deplore that.

Yes my son I know, but this man has for the majority of his life said three Hail Marys each night to me.

Very well mother he is yours do with him as you wish.

One more short story but true, before I close. The children will like this one.
There was a rich lawyer who quit practicing his Catholic faith. He quit going to church, saying is Rosary and morning prayers.

One day a monkey showed up at his door.
This monkey was very intelligent. He could do all kinds of tricks and so the man kept the monkey.
He would bring the lawyer his slippers set the table and many other things.
The people came from all over to see if miraculous monkey. Even royalty would come to see this monkey.

One day the Parish priest knocked on this man door.
The lawyer opened the door and said father what a surprise, if you have come to try to convert me you can forget it.
Oh no I have not come for that, I have come to see this monkey I have heard so much about.
Well then father come in and I will call him.
The man called the monkey but the monkey did not come.
The man called the monkey two more times but the monkey did not come.
The priest said I think I know the trouble.
Where is your bedroom?
Right here Fr.. The priest bent down and looked under the bed. And there was the monkey curled up shaking.
The priest stood up and said,” in the name of Jesus and Mary come out from under that bed.”
The monkey came out and they return to the living room. Then the priest said,” Who are you, what is your name, where do you come from, and why are you here?”
The monkey gave his name said he was a demon from hell and that God had given him permission to strangle this man by the throat until dead if he forgot to say his three Hail Marys each night.
The man nearly fainted dead away.
The priest said,” in the name of Jesus and Mary I command you to leave this house and never come back.
The priest added,” but not through the door.
You will leave through this brick wall.”

Boom in a flash monkey was gone and a very large hole was left in the wall.
Now people came to see this hole in the wall from which the monkey departed.
So never miss your three Hail Marys before you go to bed each night.

I love you all pray for me as I do for you and Mike.

~ Jerry Vearrier - July 14, 2022

My condolences to all of you my dear cousins and friends miss you all wish I could be there to tell you a little bit about Mike and myself.. I remember when I was in fourth grade Mike was in eighth grade and we were playing full-court basketball in front of Saint Joseph Catholic school and for some reason Lil Jimmy Padamore Started boxing me in the face which made me very mad but I couldn’t do anything so at the top of my lungs I screamed MIKE.
In an instant Mike was there by my side and said what’s the matter?
He’s punching me in the face. Mike looked at him and Jimmy said we’re just playing around. Mike took me by the Arman took me away from him.

From eighth grade to 10th grade Mike and I traveled all over going to horse shows in grandpa Hardell Varrier Cattletruck.
Every Sunday morning Right after mass we loaded up all the horses and Mike Wood Drive wherever where we’re going.

I remember when I was a freshman and Mike was a senior we played football for Woonsocket Redman. Mike was not as big as other guards but he played right guard and never let any man pass it.
I remember one time the Letcher boys New Mike was tough in football and they did not like him. One night at a dance they threw a blanket over Mike and begin to beating him even under the blanket he started punching when the blanket came off those boys started running faster than ever.

I remember when I was 13 mom and dad Marvin and Mary Ellen Vearrier took the only vacation I remember them ever taken.
Mike and I had to feed and mouth the cows each morning and night.
The next day was Thanksgiving day and we finished up the chores fed the cows got in the car and started off to grandma and grandpa Hardell and Marie Vearrier‘s house about 10 miles away.
All the relatives would be there. On the way down a gravel road just before Julian Feistner house a calf about four months old was down in the left side ditch.
We could see it from far back but as we got closer the calf ran out in front of us.
The calf started running on the right side of the road and we swerved to the left side.
We were going between 50 and 60 mph and the rear end swang down into the ditch which was very steep.
Now we were going sideways and holding speed trying to get the rear wheels back up on the road.
Suddenly the rear wheels grab the road and drove us towards the right side ditch. Mike cranked the wheels and we were halfway into the ditch the front wheel grab dirt and the car stood up on its nose. It it turned over once and landed right side up. I looked at Mike he looked at me and he said are you OK?
I have a little pain in my stomach. He climbed out went around and helped me out by now the pain in my stomach was bad.
Mike help me up the driveway to the house. I said to Mike I have to go in and lay down I really don’t feel good.
Mike said no this is not on house. Mike laid me down in the porch then he went inside telephoned grandpa and everyone came quickly.
I remember Mike’s dad Francis and Patrick and Frank Doug and Wayne I don’t remember if Brad was there.
After that I must’ve passed out they loaded me took me to the hospital but I don’t remember anything until the next day when mom and dad woke me up in the hospital.
The doctor told my mother that I had internal bleeding from the liver and that I would have died if not the sack around the liver had not stopped the bleeding.
To this day if playing soccer I get hit in the stomach with the ball I feel that pain again.

You may not want to believe this but it’s true when a person gets cancer he has plenty of time to make reconciliation with God.
Like my mother Mary Ellen Vearrier and many others have done.
You will find the rosary becomes a great comfort. The doctors of the church say without Mary there is no salvation.

Over 100,000 times our lady has appeared to people and each time she has requested say the rosary if you want to save your soul.

I think you will enjoy this story. A protestant man died and Jesus was condemning him to hell when suddenly our lady appeared beside the man.
She said to Jesus,” my son you and your father have given me full privilege to save any soul who has devotion to me.

Yes mother but this man has used my name in vain he has used profanity cursing swearing and obscene language. And you know how much I deplore that.

Yes my son I know, but this man has for the majority of his life said three Hail Marys each night to me.

Very well mother he is yours do with him as you wish.

One more short story but true, before I close. The children will like this one.
There was a rich lawyer who quit practicing his Catholic faith. He quit going to church, saying is Rosary and morning prayers.

One day a monkey showed up at his door.
This monkey was very intelligent. He could do all kinds of tricks and so the man kept the monkey.
He would bring the lawyer his slippers set the table and many other things.
The people came from all over to see if miraculous monkey. Even royalty would come to see this monkey.

One day the Parish priest knocked on this man door.
The lawyer opened the door and said father what a surprise, if you have come to try to convert me you can forget it.
Oh no I have not come for that, I have come to see this monkey I have heard so much about.
Well then father come in and I will call him.
The man called the monkey but the monkey did not come.
The man called the monkey two more times but the monkey did not come.
The priest said I think I know the trouble.
Where is your bedroom?
Right here Fr.. The priest bent down and looked under the bed. And there was the monkey curled up shaking.
The priest stood up and said,” in the name of Jesus and Mary come out from under that bed.”
The monkey came out and they return to the living room. Then the priest said,” Who are you, what is your name, where do you come from, and why are you here?”
The monkey gave his name said he was a demon from hell and that God had given him permission to strangle this man by the throat until dead if he forgot to say his three Hail Marys each night.
The man nearly fainted dead away.
The priest said,” in the name of Jesus and Mary I command you to leave this house and never come back.
The priest added,” but not through the door.
You will leave through this brick wall.”

Boom in a flash monkey was gone and a very large hole was left in the wall.
Now people came to see this hole in the wall from which the monkey departed.
So never miss your three Hail Marys before you go to bed each night.

I love you all pray for me as I do for you and Mike.

~ Jerry Vearrier - July 12, 2022

Mike was the best 4H leader our boys ever had. He was generous with his time and instruction. Mike even helped us put in our sewer line. He was always ready with a helping hand and that laugh. He could laugh and you couldn’t help but smile or laugh with him. One of the highest tributes on Mike’s behalf is his dedication to Carol, Colleen, Kevin and family. We will see him again.

~ Steve & Loretta Hamilton - July 9, 2022

One of my favorite memories of mike was when my wife and son and I stayed with Mike and Carol the night before our sons surgery. Our son Michael was around 2 and was suppose to have tubes put in his ears. Mike kept feeding him brownies. Our son got wound up all night. I can still hear Mike laughing about it.

~ Glen Meadows - July 8, 2022

I'm so sorry about Mike. He was a wonderful guy. May he RIP. He will be missed

~ Judy. Gudmunson - July 7, 2022

Words can not describe our sorrow, our sadness, our deepest sympathy. Our hearts, are so broken. We love all of you so very, very much. Love and prayers to all of you.

~ Wayne & Norma Howard - July 7, 2022

What a loss to our community in Boxelder canyon. Mike was there to help anyone in need. We remember the snowmachine trips as
well as the four wheel excursions. We had several years to know and love Mike and Carol, and feel so blessed to be a part of their lives.
There will be a tremendous void in our hearts as well as on the mountain.
Farewell, Mike, till we see you again.

~ Rich and Joyce Carpenter - July 7, 2022

So sorry for your loss Kevin. You and the family are in my prayers.

~ Mike Harkins - July 7, 2022

Due to work, I will not be able to attend the services. However, Mike will forever be in my heart. I have known Mike since I was a young girl. Mike was/and always will be a wonderful man that many looked up to. His family always came first. He loved going camping and sitting around telling stories and having a beer. Mike always had a hug and helping hand. He will be missed!

~ Michelle Elder-Blatt - July 7, 2022

To one of the MOST AMAZING Neighbors anyone could ask for.
Mike was always hard working and his family always came first.
He is be greatly missed.
Hugs and Prayers to this WONDERFUL FAMILY!

Max Jacobson and Family
307-277-3997

~ Max Jacobson - July 7, 2022