Michael James Harney

Michael James (“Mick”) Harney passed away on July 10, 2026, in Bozeman, Montana at the age of 84. Mick was born October 29, 1941, in Lewistown, Montana to Jimmy Martin Harney and Cora Mabel Harney. He was a beloved son, brother, father, uncle, grandfather, and friend.

Mick grew up on the family’s dryland wheat and barley farm near Benchland, Montana. Tragically, his father passed away in 1952 when Mick was only 9 years old. He remained on the family farm with his mother and 4 sisters, attending school in Benchland.

Mick graduated from Moccasin High School in 1959. He attended the former Eastern Montana College and then joined the U.S. Navy on November 14, 1960. He completed boot camp in San Diego, California on February 2, 1961, and participated in training in Illinois for 5 months before boarding the USS Essex, an aircraft carrier and the lead ship of the 24-ship Essex class built for the United States Navy during World War II. Mick was a machinist’s mate and worked in the ship’s engine room.

In April of 1961, Mick and the Essex crew provided air support to CIA-sponsored bombers during the ill-fated Bay of Pigs Invasion of Cuba. During a later European tour, Mick was severely burned and spent about 4 months recuperating in Germany. Later in 1961, Mick and the Essex completed a “People to People” cruise to Northern Europe with ports of call in Rotterdam, Hamburg, and Greenock. During the Hamburg visit, more than 1 million visitors toured the ship.

Mick was then transferred to the USS Forrestal, the world’s first supercarrier, where he again worked in the engine room. The Forrestal was the first carrier designed specifically to support jet aircraft. He toured the Caribbean and the Mediterranean and he thought Beirut, Lebanon was one of the most beautiful cities in the world. During a period of shore leave in 1963, Mick bought his first Harley Davidson motorcycle. When his service ended in 1965, he rode that motorcycle from Norfolk, Virginia to Benchland.

Mick took over the family farm and married Linda (Danielson) Harney (they later divorced). Together they had three children: Debbie, Michelle, and Wayne. Mick was a progressive farmer who was extremely successful, expanding his farm and regularly employing new ideas and farming practices. When he was not farming, Mick enjoyed spending time with family at their cabin, hunting, fishing, boating, and anything involving work with his hands. He later enjoyed golfing, trap shooting, woodworking, wine, traveling, birding, and riding his much newer Harley Davidson. He especially enjoyed spending a few winters at Double Adobe Campground and Shotgun Sports in southern Arizona, and he lived in Gold Beach, Oregon for a few years but he always returned to central Montana.

Mick was a quiet, gentle soul and was a kind and wonderful man. He will be missed by all who knew and loved him.

Mick is survived by his daughters, Debbie Evans of Carter, Montana, and Michelle Ostrye of Bozeman, Montana, and his son Wayne of Bend, Oregon. He is also survived by his sisters Mary Heinrich of Folsom, California, Pat Cecrle of Lewistown, Montana, and Kay Deming of Arvada, Colorado as well as his grandson, Braden Evans of Havre, Montana, and granddaughters Ava and Violet Kindred of Bozeman, Montana and several nieces and nephews.

Mick was preceded in death by his parents, Jimmy and Mabel Harney, his sister Jane Sullivan and her husband Jerry Sullivan, and niece Wendy Cecrle.

A celebration of life will be held July 27, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. at Dahl Funeral & Cremation Service in Bozeman.