OBITUARY FOR JOSEPH F. MALONEY
12-05-1930 : 01-09-2022
January 9, 2022 we said good-bye to husband, dad and friend, Joseph F. Maloney. His life of 3.5 generations was an accumulation of Adventures, losses, successes and friendships; this is his story.
Born the second of 7 children on Dec. 5, 1930 to Joseph A. and Adelia (Allen) Maloney in Missoula he was raised in the Rattlesnake working his first job at age 15 in his father’s food market. A proud graduate from Msla. County High, Class of ‘49’, he attended his reunions armed with a quick wit to take jabs at fellow attendees while acting as M.C.
He married his wife Mary K. (Olson) 70 yrs ago after 6 weeks of courtship and proposed while gopher hunting. He moved to Butte in 1957 and his passion for the outdoors grew every year with his skill as a hunter/fisher filling the family freezer and like generosity to many others in need. At 72 Joe’s adventures culminated by harvesting a record book ram with daughter Holly and that same season taking a fantastic goat guided by son Pat. Joe hunted Geese in Canada and turkeys in E. Mont. with friend Tom Bugni and stoked the fires of hunting camp with close friend Tom Holman. He finished out his hunting career with a cow elk and a big brute whitetail at age 87. Fishing was never considered a back seat sport; he tied his own flies; fished for salmon in the Columbia river, salmon and steelhead in the Clearwater river in Idaho, salmon in the ocean off the Oregon coast and took a dream trip to Hawaii where he and Mary caught Mahi Mahi .
Joe always had an open table for guests, sharing meals, holidays, laughter and good old fashioned conversation with many friends, among them; Janet and Doug Thompson, Jeff and Jill Honer, Tom and Evonne Holman and Bob and Becky Mundon. He always offered a space at the Maloney table for folks who had no family with which to celebrate the holidays. Somehow they all became our uncles.
Joe’s working career was multi-faceted from selling sewing machines for Singer to other varied sales jobs to cab driving to owning the Northwestern Intelligence P.I. service for 18 yrs. He finally landed his last dream job as collection manager for Mont. S.W.FCU working with a wonderful team of financial professionals many whom became close friends. He held a Board Chairman position before retiring after 26 yrs at age 82.
Our dad was proud of his children’s accomplishments and saved every clipping from the paper containing information of our successes. Memorable moments were his daughter Colleen’s rise to vice president of First Interstate Bank’s residential real estate loan dept.; son Pat’s successful baseball career from little league to the pros of which Joe never missed a game. He beamed when daughter Holly was inducted into the Butte Sports Hall of fame as a Green Jacket Member in Track and field at Butte High as well as the induction of daughter Teresa as a Butte High swimmer.
Joe was a proud Butte supporter and volunteered as a youth basketball coach and was a dedicated member of the Skyline Sportsman Assoc. He rounded out his support to that organization as president. Finally he was a strong supporter of the American values of family, church and freedom. Joe served his country and believed in Freedom and as a life member of the NRA strongly supported the 2nd amendment “Right to bear arms” as a necessary way to preserve it.
Joe was proceeded in death by siblings Jim, Mickey Maloney, Margie Wardell; dtrs. Ruth Holman, Rebecca Cerovski, Donna Dennis. He is survived by wife Mary Maloney; son Patrick (Sandy) Maloney; Dtrs. Colleen (Jerry) Cebula, Teresa (Randy) Mielke, Holly Maloney; siblings Martha Pavlet, Babe (Mike) Marbut, Jerome (Judy) Maloney, numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren , numerous nieces and nephew.
A special Thank you to Dr. Joe Gregory and staff, Dr. Scott and RN, Dr. Siddoway and all the MDs who’s expertise gave Joe quality of life and dignity in the end. Not to be left out thank you wonderful RNs, CNA’s , and sitters from Senior Solutions Hospice and Home care who helped Joe and our family in ways too many to mention. You are all true, caring professionals.
Cremation has taken place.
Please visit below to offer a condolence or share a memory of Joe.
Axelson Funeral and Cremation Services has been privileged to care for Joe and his family.
Service Schedule
Visitation
10:30 a.m.
Friday June 10, 2022
St. Patrick's Catholic Church
329 W. Mercury St.
Butte, Montana 59701
Funeral Mass
11:00 a.m.
Friday June 10, 2022
St. Patrick's Catholic Church
329 W. Mercury
Butte, MT 59701
Luncheon
1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Friday June 10, 2022
Copper King Hotel - Banquet Rooms (North Entrance across from Star Lanes)
4655 Harrison Ave.
Butte, Montana 59701
Service Schedule
Visitation
10:30 a.m.
Friday June 10, 2022
St. Patrick's Catholic Church
329 W. Mercury St.
Butte, Montana 59701
Funeral Mass
11:00 a.m.
Friday June 10, 2022
St. Patrick's Catholic Church
329 W. Mercury
Butte, MT 59701
Luncheon
1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Friday June 10, 2022
Copper King Hotel - Banquet Rooms (North Entrance across from Star Lanes)
4655 Harrison Ave.
Butte, Montana 59701
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Kathy L Decker says
Dear Mary and Family, Ed and I are so sorry for your loss of Joe. He was a very special man and good friend to my father Fred. He took him fishing and had coffee with him at Joe’s Pasty for many years. My father treasured their friendship. Please accept our deepest condolences.
Kathy and Ed Decker
Vickie Rosich says
Dear Mary and family sorry for your lose! Joe was definitely one of a kind, well remember him as a kind smiling man. Vickie Rosich (Sheehan)
Patty Guiberson says
Joe and Patty Guiberson will cherish our friendship with Joe and Mary. Joe was a familiar name to our family as Patty’s Father, Ed Ryan, always spoke of Joe with high esteem. Joe enjoyed job-sharing with Joe at Southwest Montana Community Federal Credit Union and found Joe to be an important mentor and friend. He will be forever missed by our family.
Mary Maloney says
My Dearest Joe,
It was quite an adventure; time goes when your having fun and the 70+ years were just that, fun and moving fast. You will always be my Sweetheart and it won’t be long until we are together again. Take care of our girls who saved you a place and tell them for me, as I do every day, I love and miss them with all my heart. I ask of only one thing, save me a place too. Goodbye for now; Hugs and kisses my dear Joe.
Cindy Atcheson says
We are so sorry to all the family Joe was very nice man and will be missed
Jack & Cindy Atcheson
Glenn D Laitinen says
Sorry to hear of Joe’s passing. I had the pleasure of working with Joe in the Skyline Sportsmen’s Association. It was always a pleasure to talk with Joe. What a sense of humour he had. He will be missed!
Glenn Laitinen
Colleen Cebula says
Daddy, I will always remember the Christmas Eves when we were very small and you would hold us on your lap and play Christmas Carols on your harmonica, the wee hours of Christmas mornings when Santa would open the front door to say HO HO HO MERRY CHRISTMAS! We knew that Santa had really come. It took years before I realized that it was you making a quick drive by in your taxi. You are the best Daddy! I will always cherish the times when you were willing to give advise or just listen when I needed a kind ear. You were always so supportive and encouraging. Rest well Dad, I Love You…Nonnie
Tim lowney says
Thoughts and prayers to all of Joe’s family
Jennifer Diaz says
Dear Mary Katherine and my Dear Cousins,
I am so sorry for your loss. I wish I was there on Friday to help you celebrate Uncle Joe’s beautiful life. I know he has everyone in heaven laughing. Uncle Joe was one of a kind! He never failed to make me smile and laugh. I have such fond memories. Your home was the one we always wanted to visit and never wanted to leave. It was always filled with such joy and laughter. You are always in our thoughts and prayers. Please know we are with you in spirit on Friday.
Love, Jennifer (Juniper) and Oliver
Joan Oestreich says
To my Aunt Mary Katherine and my cousins Pat, Colleen, Teresa, and Holly. I am so sorry for your loss. Uncle Joe was such a huge presence in life and in the lives of all he touched. I echo Jen’s feelings about coming to your house for my mom I know coming there was a refuge at times and I remember Uncle Joe putting together care packages to help her out, which were lifelines at times. I also remember making donuts in the kitchen and his laughter as we all gathered around the table to wait for the donuts. He had a great long life and the memories you all have of your time with him will keep him alive in your hearts forever. Mary 70 years of marriage is amazing and the memories you must have. Anytime you are missing Joe you just think of a memory that will bring a smile to your face, and you know he will take time from my cousins who he is now with to smile down on you.
Jeffrey & Jill Honer says
Dear family….just want each of you to know, just how much Joe & Mary K have meant to both Jeff and myself. Joe was Jeffs daily lunch buddy working at the credit union, and they both could talk hunting and fishing like no other. We always enjoyed getting together just to have some fun.
That twinkle you would get in your eye .well…we all knew you were up to something funny.
We will always keep you both close to our hearts. We love and miss you Joe. Save us all a seat at the table.