Michael Pat Mackey

Michael Pat Mackey was born January 27, 1953 and passed away January 3, 2021 in Rapid City.

A memorial service was held January 9, 2021 at Kirk Funeral Home in Rapid City.

A burial of cremated remains will take place in the spring at Hillview Cemetery at Isabel.

Mike’s family moved around a bit during his younger years before settling down in Draper and Ft. Pierre, where he went to elementary school. He graduated from Stanley County High School at Ft. Pierre in 1971. He attended Mount Marty College in Yankton, where he was in the first class of men to attend the school. He graduated in 1975 with a degree in biology.

After graduation he worked at the State Chem Lab in Vermillion. A year later he moved to Spearfish to help his mother and younger siblings. He worked at the bentonite mines in Colony, WY for about a year and a half. Mike then was hired on at Amax Coal - Belle Ayre Mine in Gillette, WY in May of 1979 and moved to Moorcroft, WY. In the 35 years he worked for the company he worked at Belle Ayre and Eagle Butte Mines in many different capacities. He was always ready to help.

In 1984 he bought some land in New Haven, WY, where he raised cows and hogs for many years, all the while working full time at the mine. His mother lived with him, helping him with the ranching. He was a very caring, loving brother and son and took care of his mother for many years in her retirement.

After his mother’s passing, he no longer ranched and he threw himself into his work at the mine. At the time of his retirement, Mike discovered he had early onset Alzheimer’s as well as other health issues.

In 2015 he moved in with his sister Holly and her husband Jeff in Piedmont and over the next two years worked on tying-up loose ends “up the hill.” It was with a heavy heart that he had to sell his home and transition to a permanent residence in Piedmont.

Mike is survived by his sister, April Mackey of Rock Hill, SC; his brothers, Justin (Nancy) Mackey of Hillsboro, OR and Charles (Lori) Mackey of Yankton; his sister, Holly (Jeffrey) Roltgen of Piedmont; several nieces and nephews and one great-nephew.

He was preceded in death by his father, Walter Mackey, and his mother, Margaret “Peggy” (Linderman) Mackey.

Arrangements are with Kirk Funeral Home of Rapid City.