Fergus Jr. Mitchell

Fergus Mitchell, Jr., 89 of Great Falls passed away peacefully on Friday, October 28, 2016 of natural causes. A wake will be held at O’Connor Funeral home on Friday, Nov. 4, 2016, at 7pm and a Funeral Liturgy will be held at St. Ann’s Cathedral on Saturday, Nov. 5, 2016, at 10am. His remains will be buried in Kalispell, MT in the Wishart family plot. Arrangements are in the care of O’Connor Funeral Home. Fergus was born March 12, 1927 in Great Falls. After a 4-year enlistment in the U.S. Navy (1948-1952) he returned to college where he met his future wife, Louise Wishart. They were married on September 2, 1954 in Kalispell. In 1955 he earned his B.S. Degree in Geology from St. Louis University and went to work as a chemist in Anaconda. It was during his 12 years in Anaconda that all three of Louise and Fergus’ children were born. In 1967 he returned to Great Falls to work with his parents and brothers at the family owned Ayrshire Dairy. In 1974, he received his Master’s in Spanish Literature from the University of Montana. When the dairy was sold in 1973 he continued in the Dairy Business working for Vita Rich Dairy until his retirement in 1989. After retirement he continued to pursue his lifelong loves of geology, Spanish, reading and hiking. He was a member of St. Ann’s parish, Golden Voice Toastmasters and the Scottish American Society. He considered his family to be his biggest success; Louise his devoted wife, a successful runner and music teacher; Frank a trial attorney; John a civil engineer; and Margaret an IT executive; and his beloved grandchildren Delia, Tesla, and Evan. Fergus was grandson of Harry B. Mitchell, who emigrated from Laurencekirk, Scotland, and later was the mayor of Great Falls and the head of the Civil Service during Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry Truman administrations. He is survived by his two brothers Harry and Francis, his wife Louise, his two sons Frank and John (married to Carey Hughes), his daughter Margaret (married to Louis Ippolito), and his three grandchildren Delia, Tesla and Evan. Melissa Matheny-Mitchell (Frank’s wife) preceded Fergus in death. The family suggests memorials in Fergus Mitchell’s name be given to St. Ann’s Soup Kitchen, 715 3rd Avenue North, Great Falls MT 59401.