Michael "Mike" Thomas Walsh

BISMARCK- Michael “Mike” Thomas Walsh, 79, formerly of Rapid City, passed away June 8, 2018 at St. Alexius Hospital in Bismarck, ND. Visitation will take place at 5:00 PM Friday, June 22 at Osheim & Schmidt Funeral Home, followed by a Rosary at 6:00 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 AM Saturday, June 23 at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, followed by a private family burial at Mount Calary within Mountain View Cemetery in Rapid City. Mike was born July 26, 1938 in Rapid City to Mark and Margaret (Brown) Walsh. He was the eldest son and second of seven children. Mike grew up in Bismarck, ND and won the North Dakota Soap Box Derby in 1950. He graduated from Bismarck's St. Mary's Central High School in 1956 before attending the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks. Mike was drafted by the US Army and served as a paratrooper before returning to UND to finish his business degree. Michael met and married Judy Day of Kansas City, KS in 1966 and together they had five children. In 1976, Mike and Judy moved their family from St. Louis, MO to Rapid City, where Mike took a job with Kluthe and Lane Insurance before he co-founded Western Dakota Insurors. While building the business and raising their children, Mike and Judy were active members of Blessed Sacrament Parish, spent many happy times camping in the Black Hills, and were prolific gardeners. Mike was also a skilled bird and deer hunter and, with his brothers, son, and good friends, hunted all over the region. Beloved wife Judy died in 1993, and Mike later retired. In 2003, Mike moved to Bismarck where he enjoyed the company of special companion Judy Hoffmann and many other friends until his death. Mike's loved ones will cherish his Irish laughter and storytelling as well as his wisdom and love as a father, grandfather, and friend. He will be dearly missed by many, especially his children: Aileen (Bryan) VanMeveren, Ft. Collins, CO; Brendan (Julie) Walsh, St. Louis, MO; Erinn (Todd) Renyer, Topeka, KS; Meghan (Jim) Abraham, Ft. Collins, CO; Colleen (Frank) Torres, Loveland, CO; 17 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Mike also leaves behind siblings Patrick (Paula) Walsh, SD; Suzie (Jim) Dick, NM; Timothy (Pati) Walsh, NM; Clancy Walsh, OR; Kevin (Cindy) Walsh, MT, and brother-in-law Ed Kary, AZ. Mike is preceded in death by his parents Mark and Marnie, wife Judy, and sister Charity Kary.Memorial contributions may be made in honor of Michael T. Walsh at Catholic Social Services of Rapid City: 605-348-6088 or www.catholicsocialservicesrapidcity.com