August 18th, 2021

Margaret (Margie) Jean McMahon
Margaret (Margie) Jean McMahon, a woman of quiet grace and with a beautiful servant’s heart, died on August 10, 2021, following five years of fighting with cancer. Margie was determined in this battle and kept her glorious smile and concern for others throughout the difficult days. Although her last months included many challenging bouts with pain and suffering, the most memorable times were the supportive visits and phone calls from family and friends. They brought incredible moments of joy and love, along with delicious treats and memorable conversations. Margie’s family will be forever grateful for everyone’s prayers, generosity and loving support.
Margie attended Helena Public Schools, graduating with honors from Helena High School in 1985. The former Bengal played volleyball and was a member of the 1984 AA Girls’ Basketball State Championship squad (which was inducted into the Helena Sports Hall of Fame in 2011). She was remembered by her classmates as a beautiful person inside and out with a smile on her face and a kind word on her lips.
After high school, Margie ventured to the Big Apple to work for a wonderful family, caring for their three young children. After a year, she returned to Montana, earning a business management degree at the U of M while living in the Alpha Phi house with many terrific gals, including her future sister-in-law Shannon Velk.
Margie started her business management career as a sales manager at Hennessy’s in Missoula, later transferring to their headquarters in Cincinnati, Ohio, as a buyer and then a corporate planner. The company relocated to Arkansas with Margie returning to Missoula with employment as a sales manager for Herberger’s.
Lastly, she moved to her parents’ Helena home in 2004 working another five years as a Clinique consultant at Dillard’s department store. In the summer of 2009, she resigned to look for a new opportunity, returning to college earning a certificate in nutrition and health promotion.
During the past 15 years, Margie selflessly shared her talents with those living at God’s Love or by volunteering in her community. She attended daily mass, mostly online since the beginning of the recent pandemic; yet was a dedicated St. Helena Cathedral parishioner receiving immense solace from the Sacraments. Having that beautiful servant’s heart helped her to live in peace and love of Jesus. Her one audience was the Lord! His grace helped to enlighten her mind and strengthen her will to do good.
In 2017, the McMahon family had a grand reunion! Margie listed some favorite things to do as walking, Pilates, reading and baking. Over the years, she also created several awesome scrapbooks, taught herself to crochet and was beginning to learn the piano. She loved lake activities, especially water skiing with her brothers and friends. Margie thoroughly enjoyed having the chance to see her four nephews and her niece during their various sporting events. Margie considered family dinners and holiday gatherings as a blessing. In the reunion photo memory book, these words help explain the meaning of family:
“Our family is a circle of strength. Founded on faith, joined in love, and kept by God. With every birth and with every union, the circle grows. Every sorrow faced together makes the circle stronger and every joy-filled moment spent together increases the love! After all, family isn’t an important thing, it is Everything.”
Margie asked for appreciation and special recognition to be given to all the dedicated and talented medical professionals who cared for her, especially those from Frontier Home Health and St. Peter’s Hospice, as well as Dr. Thomas Weiner.
During the past 11 years, Margie greatly missed her beloved brother, Michael Thomas McMahon and prayed daily for the repose of his soul; and the same for her cousins Joseph and Tony Appel, and David Zugel. Additionally, those special family members preceding Margie in death were her grandparents Patrick and Madge McMahon, and Anthony and Margaret Zugel; her aunts Jeanne Zugel and Tricia McMahon Mileweski; as well as uncles Larry and Jim Zugel, and Frank Mileweski.
Margie is survived by her loving parents, Gene and Peggy McMahon; brother Jim McMahon; sister Maureen McMahon-Mannix (Randy) and their sons Neil, Joe and Dan; her sister-in-law Shannon Velk McMahon and children, Kaitlin and Brian; along with many loving aunts, uncles and cousins who gave immense care and support during her illness. Her pallbearers will be Jim McMahon; Randy Mannix; Neil, Joe and Dan Mannix; and Brian McMahon.
To celebrate Margie’s life, there will be a vigil service on Tuesday, August 17, at 6 p.m. at Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home in Helena. The Mass of Christian Burial held at St. Helena Cathedral at 2 p.m. Wednesday, August 18, with burial immediately following at Resurrection Cemetery. The vigil service will also be available online. A reception will be held at the funeral home following the burial.
Special family friend and author Debbie Boyle leads us in prayer for Margie with this poem:
“Faithful servant, the sun sets low, your journey begins with miles to go. Lay down regrets, cast sorrows aside, reach to the heavens, arms open wide. Good servant, worthy believer, life begins anew! Godspeed. God Bless. Peace be with you.”
Suggested donations made in the loving memory of Margie in lieu of flowers: St. Helena Cathedral, St. Peter’s Hospice, God’s Love or donor’s choice. Please visit www.aswfuneralhome.com to offer a condolence to the family or to share a memory of Margie.

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​Ona Edwards Lake
Ona Edwards Lake was born on May 27, 1915, in Belle Fourche, South Dakota, to A.I.F. and Carrie Nesley Edwards. She was raised in Broadus and Miles City, Montana; and in Snohomish, Washington. She graduated from Custer County High School in 1933.
On May 1, 1937, she married James J. “Dutch” Lake in Anaconda. She resided in Deer Lodge until she retired from the Milwaukee Railroad as the superintendent’s secretary in 1974 after 17 years of service. After retirement she moved to the Swan Valley to enjoy her second home. She enjoyed hiking with numerous valley friends and was an avid snowmobiler.
She was preceded in death by four brothers and one sister. Her husband James “Dutch” Lake passed on May 21, 1992.
Ona is survived by her son Michael and daughter-in-law Betty of Swan Valley; three grandsons; and numerous great and great-great grandchildren and much-loved nieces and nephews. There will be no services.

Michele “Mickie” Ann McQueary
Michele Ann McQueary, also known as “Mickie,” passed peacefully from this life in the early morning of August 6, 2021, at the family ranch. She was born to Michael and Bette Lacey on July 31, 1949, joining her brother Tim Lacey. They were later blessed by their younger sister Marianne.
In Mickie’s younger years, her devoted mother moved the family back to Deer Lodge where Bette became the loving wife of Gene Burt. 
It was during this time that Mickie started to take a liking to a young man, Dan McQueary. Mickie and her friend Karen Beck would ride their horses to take Kool-Aid out to him in the hay field. No one else in the field got any attention but him. June 27, 1970, was the day she made that young man her husband during a ceremony at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Deer Lodge. They were later blessed with two boys, Troy in 1973 and Jeff in 1977.
Mickie always made every house an immaculate, warm and loving home for Dan and her boys, whether it was making do with the apartment above the Norge, raising the boys in the little house on Missouri or in the house at the ranch. She took pride in her yard, wherever that was, and always had lots of beautiful flowers. Meals would always be ready, even when everyone showed up at different times.
Invariably she was the one to get things handled. Whether it was finding a place for the newlyweds to live, planning family gatherings or handling the final wishes of loved ones, Mickie was the one to take the bull by the horns and get the task accomplished. When her Pierce Aunts (Mae, Eva, Helen and Margie) aged, she was there to handle any tasks necessary to aid in their wellbeing. Together with her sister, they also helped and cared for their mom and dad (Bette and Gene Burt) as they moved onto their golden years.
Mickie always had a job, even if it meant working at night to make sure she was home for the boys. 
She retired in 2016 from 31 years of serving as the school business clerk (at both the high school and elementary levels) and was well respected for her knowledge and efficiency. Including the years working at the title and registration office, that gave her 34 years serving public interests.
Mickie is survived by her loving husband of 51 years, Dan; her boys Troy (Rikki) and Jeff (Rikki); grandchildren Dace, Keaton, Kaylee, and Olivia; great-granddaughter Eastyn; sister Marianne (Mike) Saylor; and sister-in-law Laura (Bob) Rodriguez. Several nieces, nephews, in-laws, other extended family and close friends are also left behind.
A celebration of Mickie’s life will be held from 1-4 p.m. on Saturday, September 4, 2021, at the Elks Lodge in Deer Lodge. Mickie will be laid to rest during a private burial at Hillcrest Cemetery in Deer Lodge.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials in honor of Mickie be made to the Rialto Community Theatre or Powell County Senior Citizens. Please visit  www.buttefuneralhome.com to offer a condolence or share a memory of Mickie.
Axelson Funeral and Cremation Services has been privileged to care for Mickie and her family.