Melanie Connole

On October 23, 2021 our beautiful girl Melanie Suzette Connole lost her 11 month battle with cancer. People always saw her as a fierce fighter in everything she did. She loved her whole family more than anything. At one point during her fight she expressed her need to get better so she could love on her family more. Melanie was born in Butte, Montana on May 27, 1976. Her early years were spent in Montana City and Helena with a year in Oregon and 6th grade was in the DC area. Toward the end of 8th grade she was mortified to find out her parents were moving her to Butte. Little did she know that this new adventure would lead her to lifetime friends that were with her until her final days. After graduating from Butte High in 1994, she attended Montana Tech for a year then transferred to Missoula and attended the University of Montana graduating with a degree in Journalism, following in her Dad's foot steps. Once her family moved to Billings, she knew she couldn't stay away from them and watching her brothers in sports. In 2000 she started working for KTVQ-TV and ended up as the noon news director. In those 20 plus years she developed an unbelievable cast of friends. All the support from her TV family all over the country has been incredibly touching. Melanie was an over the top sports fan! She was a Butte High cheerleader, loved the Skyview Falcons, especially watching her brothers and her favorite athlete of all time, her son Caleb. One of Mel's greatest passions was her love of wrestling. She was the number one fan of the Skyview Falcons and the Butte High Bulldogs. Her knowledge of the sport was legendary, and the state wrestling tournament was her favorite time of the year. You would be hard pressed to find a bigger GRIZ fan, GO GRIZ!!, Georgia Bulldog football, NASCAR, and an Atlanta Braves fan. The list could go on! Melanie loved spring and summer, Artic Circle and its fry sauce, the Olympics (especially gymnastics~never interrupt her), pasta revena from Ciao Mambo, gardening (her yard and flowers were amazing). She didn't tolerate bad drivers, being late (Mom & Dad!), and above all Easter Peeps. Since everyone knew that, her coworkers were always "peeping" her. In 2003 she married Jason Partridge and had her number one accomplishment, Caleb. She loved Caleb more than anything and was always his number one fan. She was an all star Mom and hated the thought of leaving him even though she knew she had raised a strong, independent young man. Her life took an unexpected turn in 2009 when she was reacquainted with Chad Flynn. He has been her life partner ever since. He was her strength and love and she was his. Thank goodness he was a GRIZ fan or it never would have worked! Even though she was taken from us way too soon, we are so grateful she was in our lives. She is survived by her son Caleb Partridge, her partner Chad Flynn and his family, her parents Judy and Jay Kohn, her brothers and sisters-in-law Jeff and Beth Kohn, Andy and Lisa Kohn and her niece Hayden who was the new passion in her heart; uncles and aunts Jim and Judy Connole, John and Sue Connole, Mike and Betty Charlton, Aunt Sandi Kohn and Margery and Aunt Donna Van Heel. Mel was so close to all her cousins, Pam, Scott, Kevin, Tracy, Steve, Russ, Kelly, Brett, Chris and all their spouses and children but especially her cousin Heather who was also her best friend and her family. Her fur babies Bentley and Willow are heartbroken over losing their mom. She was preceded in death by her grandparents Warren and Eyvanna Connole, Jerry and Betty Kohn, Don and Francis Larson, Aunt Janet Connole, Aunt Leslie Clemens and her dear cousin Tracey Clemens. We hope those heavenly gates were ready for this beautiful, feisty one of a kind angel! Our hearts are broken not to have you here with us but watch over us and keep us in line. Memorials in Melanie's name may be sent to: MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX 77030; or Boys and Girls Club of Yellowstone County, 505 Orchard Ln, Billings, MT 59101; or the charity of your choice.