Michael Crnkovich

Michael “Mike” “Papa” Louis Crnkovich, 87, of Silverton, Idaho, passed away October 22, 2015 at the Silver Wood Good Samaritan of Silverton. He was born September 19, 1928 in Camp Seco, California; Mike was the son of John and Kate (Novak) Crnkovich.

Mike attended and graduated from the Mullan High School in 1945. He has lived in the Silver Valley all of his life. Mike served in the U.S. Marines during the Korean Conflict. Mike was instrumental and attended ceremonies in the naming of the USS Benfold defense destroyer ship, after a comrade Navy Corpsman, Edward Benfold, a 21 year old from Staten Island, assigned to their regiment because of his medical training, died scooping up two grenades that had landed in Crnkovich’s foxhole; Benfold, holding the grenades, leaped and hurled himself at a line of oncoming enemy soldiers; Benfold was killed in carrying out this heroic act.

Mike married Helen M. “Chickie” Manolovich on July 11, 1954 at the St. Rita’s
Catholic Church of Kellogg; Chickie passed away June 7, 2015.

Mike had worked for ASARCO for forty-five years, starting at the Galena and working the last thirty years for the Assay Office.

Mike was a member of the Osburn V.F.W. #1675, a member of a Wallace Men’s Bowling League and attended the annual ASARCO Retirement party. He coached Babe Ruth baseball and was an avid fan of the Seattle Mariners and Ichiro Suzuki. Mike and his wife, Chickie, were the ultimate of avid sports fans of all sports and were honored as Life Time Achievement Members and were inducted into the Wallace High School Hall Of Fame.

Mike is survived by one son Mike Crnkovich and Kelly Wise of La Selva Beach, California; three granddaughters Katlynn (Darrell) Calton of Sparks, Nevada; Kristen (Josh) Schone of Castle Rock, Colorado; and Kimberley Crnkovich of Cherry Creek, Colorado; one great-grandson on the way, Riley Calton; two brothers Joe Crnkovich of Spokane Valley, Washington; Steve (Violet) Crnkovich of Mullan, Idaho; he is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews. Mike was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Chickie, three brothers Frank, Ivan and George and one sister Katherine “Babe” Myers.

Memorial Services for both Mike and Chickie will be held on Saturday, January 30, 2016 at 11:00 A.M., at the St. Rita’s Catholic Church of Kellogg with Deacon John McKinley officiating. A reception and a gathering of family and friends will be held at the Wallace Elks following services.

The family suggests that memorials may be made to the Wallace High School Athletic Fund, #1 Miners Alley, Wallace, Idaho 83873.

SHOSHONE FUNERAL SERVICES & CREMATORY KELLOGG, IDAHO is entrusted with funeral arrangements.

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