Obituary: Michael D. Ferguson
Author: Mike Feguson Family
Michael D. Ferguson
Mike Feguson Family
Townsend resident Michael D. Ferguson died peacefully at his home on October 3, 2023. He was 91 and left behind his loving wife Jeanie Ferguson.
Mike has 6 children; Michael R Ferguson, RaeAnn Ferguson, Kevin Ferguson, and Karla Ferguson live in Billings. Daughters Kellie Bush lives in Idaho and Keri Clearwater lives in Germany. There are 12 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren in this family.
Mike was born in Malta on March 26, 1932, to Michael A. and Marguerite (Sloan) Ferguson. There were four children in this family, two boys and two girls. Mike’s brother Gary “Ferg” is still alive, and lives near Townsend.
Mike and Jeannette Bystrom (Jeanie) were married for 17 years and moved to Townsend in 2001 when he retired from Montana Aeronautics. They built their dream hangar home at the Townsend Airport., where he continued his lifelong passion for aviation. He had flown over 13,000 hours in general aviation (GA) aircraft.
Mike was in the Air Force from 1951 to 1955 and worked as a jet engine mechanic. After he got out of the Air Force he went to school to get his Aircraft and Power Plant (A&P) license at the Northrop Institute of Technology, in Inglewood, California. This license is required for mechanics to work on civilian aircraft. Mike owned a mechanics shop in Billings, MT for 14 years and from there went to Helena to become Director of Montana Aeronautics. He was there for 27 years and retired in 2001.
There is an annual fly-in at Oshkosh, Wisconsin for pilots who are members of the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA). Mike started flying there in 1987 and flew every year up until 2022. Mike was also the Northwestern Regional Manager for the Aircraft Owners and Pilots’ Association (AOPA) serving Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. Often at various aviation events pilots will give kids called Young Eagles who want a plane ride free flight around the local area. While at Montana Aeronautics, Mike was a strong advocate of aviation education, and as a result, flew over 1100 Young Eagles.
In 1985 Mike flew his Bonanza to Hawaii. Mike’s goal was to fly by himself non-stop from Hickman Field in Honolulu, Hawaii to Oshkosh. Mike said, “I flew to Oshkosh from Hickman Field. It took 14 hours, and 15 minutes going over to Hawaii from Oakland, California. I had to make position reports going over and coming back. I was in Hawaii for 4 or 5 days. I left Hawaii on July 26th and arrived at Oshkosh on July 27th, after flying 4497 miles. I had to land at Salt Lake City coming back, because I had a strong headwind, so I had to stop for fuel. I had to tell the people in the Air Traffic Control (ATC) tower that I was on a world record flight so they could record the official time of landing and takeoff.
The French FÉDÉRATION AÉRONAUTIQUE INTERNATIONALE awards the “Dìplôme de 1Record” for those people who break aviation records. Mike was awarded one for his world-record flight from Hawaii to Oshkosh. Mike also received a similar reward from the National Aeronautic Association.
After the fall of Russia in the 1990s Mike flew his Bonanza from Nome, Alaska to Provideniya, Russia and back again. He was there about three days.
Mike was instrumental in establishing an annual Winter Survival Course for pilots in his position as Aeronautics Director.
He also knew Apollo 8 astronaut Frank Borman and space shuttle astronaut Jim Adamson. Frank lives in Montana, and Jim used to live in our state. The Apollo 8 crew flew around the moon during the Christmas season of 1968, and it was during this mission that the famous “Earth Rise” photo was taken. Jim gave Mike a signed picture taken from space when he flew over this area.
Mike and Jeanie may not have flown completely around the world, but they have made trips to Mexico, Puerto Rico, Panama, Guatemala, Ecuador, Brazil, the Cayman Islands, the Bahamas, Canada, most of the 50 States, including fly-ins at Sun ‘N Fun in Florida, and the Reno Air Races. Once, Mike flew to Germany via Greenland and Iceland with a friend who owned an F33 Bonanza. Mike came back on a commercial flight. Another favorite flight Mike made was from Kalispell to Helena in the co-pilot’s seat of a B-17 called Sentimental Journey.
There is an organization for pilots called Quiet Birdmen (QBs) – except that when the beer is free the men are not very quiet! The head person for each location is called the Governor, and each location is called a Hangar. Mike was the Governor of the Helena Hangar and went to national conventions in San Francisco and Fort Walton, Beach, Florida.
Mike received two FAA awards for Fifty Years of Dedicated Service, one for Master Pilot and one for Master Mechanic, with no violations. He was also a strong Christian. Now Mike is flying through the Heavens. Psalms 18:10 “And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: yea, he did upon the wings of the wind.”
Visitation and viewing will begin at 11:00 am Friday, October 13, 2023 at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Townsend, with a Funeral Mass at noon at the church. Burial will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery in Townsend. Memorials in Michael’s name are suggested to any charity or organization of the donor’s choice. Please visit https://www.stevensonwilke.com to offer a condolence to the family or to share a memory of Michael.
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PhotoCredit: Photo Credits: Ferguson Family
Image 1 Caption: Mike Feguson
