Michael Thorne Allen crossed the Great Divide on Aug. 9, 2026 at his home on the N-Bar-A Ranch. He was 70.

Mike was born July 23, 1956 in Missoula, MT, to Fay (Bentz) and Norman E. Allen. He was raised on his family’s ranch on the Blue Slide west of Thompson Falls, MT, as the oldest of four children: Michael, Tammie, Shawn and Pat.

He attended schools in Thompson Falls, graduating with the Class of 1975. He participated in band, chorus, drama, football, wrestling and track. He was a mainstay in 1974 on the school’s first state football championship team.

After high school he attended one year at Kinman Business College in Spokane, Wash. He worked as a logger, and later became a structural steel fitter and welder on off-shore oil refineries. In 1992 he settled back on the ranch, where he built his own log home. Jobs included pole building construction, Flodin Lumber Co. mechanic, and logger, followed by 21 years at NAPA Auto Parts in T-Falls, retiring in 2021.

Mike supported his hometown Blue Hawks. Starting in the 1990s and ending in 2017, he did two stints as Junior High football head coach. He loved coaching and is remembered for being positive, direct and inspiring players to believe in their potential. He also assisted with the Punt, Pass & Kick youth program.

When the Blue Hawk Gridiron Club was formed, Mike became vice president and helped turn the annual Keg Bowl Christmas-time reunion flag football game into a scholarship fundraising endeavor, as it remains today.

Starting about 2006, Mike was one of four Blue Hawks who invested hundreds of hours over several years to prepare the cliff face of Flat Iron Ridge and repaint a TF symbol created by students in 1962. Refreshing the community marker was no simple job.

As a founding member in 1976 of the Cabinet Mountain Backpacking Society, Mike enjoyed campouts and float trips with childhood friends. On CMBS adventures, Mike could be counted on to brew cowboy coffee, and make certain campfires were out.

On the family ranch, he hunted and hayed, worked with cattle, developed Mountain Man skills thanks to his father’s knowledge, and cut plenty of firewood.

Mike married Valerie Roth on April 19, 1976. They had two children: Jessica and Christopher. He married Roxy Riggs on Feb. 14, 1983. Together they raised her three sons. Lucas, Matthew and Travis.

Since 1998, his soulmate was Pernella “Penny” Sheffer.

Preceding him in death were his brother, Pat; his parents, Norm and Faye; daughter Jessica, and partner Pernella.

A Celebration of Life is planned at 1 pm on Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026 at the Allen Family Memorial Site above the ranch house, 1379 Blue Slide Road. Following the service, from 2 to 5 pm, join a potluck gathering at Shawn Allen’s residence, 1337 Blue Slide Road. Bring your lawn chairs and beverages.

Memorial donations may be made in Mike’s name to the Bluehawk Gridiron Club, PO Box 1602, Thompson Falls, MT, 59873.