Michael Rapkoch

Michael “Mike” Kevin Rapkoch passed into eternal life after a brief battle with cancer on March 22, 2025. He was 68 years old. Mike died peacefully surrounded by his family and was led into eternal life by His Heavenly Mother and St. Joseph. His greatest loves were the Lord and His Catholic faith, his wife of nearly 45 years, Susan Rapkoch, his three daughters Danielle Rapkoch, Arianne Snyder, and Constance Hull, his two granddaughters Michaela Hull and Maggie Snyder, his son-in-law Phil Hull, and his parents and siblings. Mike was a deeply devoted family man. His parting prayer was that his “girls” be taken care of.

Mike was born on April 7, 1956, in Bozeman, Montana. He was raised in a devout Catholic family with five brothers and sisters. He loved to tell stories about growing up in Bozeman, Great Falls, and Lewistown where he and his siblings had many adventures. One of his first jobs was working as a nighttime Disc Jockey (DJ) “playing the hits,” which instilled a lifelong love of music. In his final hours, his family sang along to some of his favorite songs, remembering his deep voice filling the air over the years.

While in college at Northwest Community College in Powell, Wyoming, he met his wife, Susan, when they were paired as debate partners. They were married on June 13, 1980 after which they moved to Helena where they both graduated from Carroll College. He graduated from the University of Montana Law School in Missoula in 1988 and he practiced law in Billings.

Mike was a tireless defender of the defenseless. Over the years he volunteered for Billings 40 Days for Life campaign and served the physically and intellectually disabled. He had a heart for those who could not defend themselves. He was a brilliant lawyer, philosopher, and writer. Even in his final days, he was pondering and speaking of the deeper aspects of life, which he learned through years of prolific reading.

Passed down from his father, Mike was an avid baseball fan and looked forward to the spring season every year so he could cheer on the San Francisco Giants. It was his favorite pastime.

He was preceded in death by his father, Marcellus “Sell” Rapkoch, his mother, Ann Rapkoch, his in-laws Hank and Dorothy Szczepanski, his nephew, Sam Rapkoch, his niece, Christina Nelson, and five unborn grandbabies: Victoria Lynn, Caleb Augustine, Marie-Therese, Andrew Thomas, and Bridget Kateri Hull.

He is survived by Susan, Constance (Phil & Michaela), Arianne (Maggie), Danielle, Steve, Geoff, Casey, Dan, and Jenny.

The Mass of Christian Burial will be on Friday, March 28, 2025 at 10:00 am at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church in Billings, Montana with Fr. Steve Zabrocki as celebrant. A reception will follow in the parish hall.

In lieu of flowers the family requests prayers for the repose of his soul, a donation to Stillwater Hospice, Billings Clinic Foundation, or a charity of your choosing.