Michael Joseph Hanshew was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on February 11, 1949, to Louise Bacher Hanshew and Robert Hanshew. He was raised by his mom and grandparents Joseph and Nellie Bacher in a house next to Euclid Beach amusement park on Lake Erie.

Mike met the love of his life, Sandra Kay Hugus, at Collinwood High School when he was 17 and she was 16. They married on August 13, 1971, and their years before children were filled with tennis, camping, canoeing, hiking, and biking, all with their beloved dog Speezer.

He obtained degree in psychology at Cleveland State University, albeit on an extended timeline because apparently basketball was more fun than attending class. During college he worked at the Cleveland Boys Club, the beginning of a long career helping others.

In 1974, inspired by the John Steinbeck novel Travels with Charley, Mike and Sandy traveled around the country in a blue VW bus, and much like Steinbeck, they fell in love with Montana. In 1976, Mike decided to move here, and Sandy jokes that she was dragged West across the Plains like the pioneer wives of old.

Mike's first job in Montana was working with people with developmental disabilities in Boulder. From there he worked his way up to the position of director of Developmental Disabilities for the State of Montana, and then director of Senior Services. He was proud to be a bureaucrat. After retirement from the state he became an expert in home health care and consulted for Consumer Direct of Missoula.

His work made a difference, sometimes in ways that few people know about. In 2007, before Obamacare ensured the right federally, Mike pushed a bill through the Montana legislature that allowed parents to keep their children on their health insurance until the age of 26. He loved to joke that it was the Chris Hanshew Omnibus Act.

His impact also went beyond Montana. For Consumer Direct, he traveled around the country helping states use federal money to pay home health care workers, usually family members taking care of loved ones. He helped develop these programs in Alaska, Arizona, Idaho, Missouri, New Mexico, Nevada, and Wisconsin.

Mike had an intense belief in his ability to master anything he put his mind to. Armed with no real experience and a few books, he decided to build his own house. In 1984, with a 3-year-old daughter, Annie, in tow and a son, Chris, on the way, they moved to an unfinished split-level in the Spokane Hills. The house grew and changed over the years, but he built almost all of it himself. We are grateful that he spent his last days at home with beautiful views of his yard and the Elkhorns.

He was a natural leader and talented advocate. He frequently dragged his children to the legislature when he was testifying, which they didn't fully appreciate at the time but do now. He was relentlessly passionate about issues he cared about, which endeared him to some and annoyed the hell out of others. He taught his children to work hard, speak their minds, step up to leadership, and advocate for others.

The family also played hard, camping, hiking, biking, cross-country skiing, and kayaking together. Favorite places included Seeley Lake, the Tetons, Hawaii, Utah, and Alaska. Even after an autoimmune diagnosis and an artificial hip, he backpacked in and out of the Grand Canyon with Chris. They made it back up just in time to watch the Ohio State game.

He was preceded in death by his mother and grandparents, six dogs, two cats, seven grand-cats, and two grand-dogs. He is survived by his wife, Sandy Hugus Hanshew; son, Chris Hanshew; daughter, Annie Hanshew; and son-in-law, Murry Warhank. His dog, Winnie; cat, Captain; and grand-dogs, Max and Tillie; were with him in the days before he died. They miss him as much as we do.

In lieu of flowers, if you feel so-moved please donate to the Helena Food Share or Lewis and Clark Humane Society. A party in his honor will be held at his home next summer, his favorite season, as soon as the yard is in full bloom.