Michael Delos Sullivan, a 1962 graduate of Burns Union High School, passed away on Nov. 26, 2024 in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. He was 80.

Mike was born in Burns on Oct. 31, 1944 to Delos “Pat” Sullivan and Frances “Frankie” (Wayne) Sullivan. He was an only child. When he was three, the family moved to Unity, Ore., where Mike attended a two-room school through the 4th grade. They then moved to Anchorage for three years. On a visit to Burns, his parents bought the Good Eats café, changed the menu to American cuisine and renamed it the Hilander café.

Mike suffered an accidental gunshot wound in 1959 that led to amputation of his right leg as an adult. He played cornet in the high school band and went to work at Edward Hines Lumber Co. when he graduated.

Six months later, largely through the efforts of his high school counselor, Mike received a Department of Vocational Rehabilitation scholarship and enrolled at Pacific University. A year later, he transferred to the University of Oregon and graduated with a BS degree in journalism in 1967.

A few months later, his friend BJ Jones introduced him to Maxine Elliott. Three and a half months later, they were married with BJ as best man. They were wed 56 years.

Mike and Maxine lived in Oregon, California and New York while Mike pursued a career in magazine editing and communications. Returning to Portland, Mike was vice president of the Northwest Forestry Association for 16 years. Later, he was recruited by Potlatch Corp. in Lewiston, Idaho, where he was communications manager and company spokesman. When Potlatch moved its headquarters to Spokane, he came along as director of corporate communications. He was at Potlatch for over 18 years.

Mike was, above all, a family man. Colleen was born in 1976 and Patrick in 1978. He would do anything for his kids, including relearning algebra to help get Pat through it! He was active in Boy Scouts in Lewiston. He served on the board of directors of Special Olympics Idaho, Inc. in the early 2000s and was president for two years.

Mike lived in Post Falls and Coeur d’Alene for 26 years. He attended Lake City Church. He lived around the block from Glen Gertson, who taught math at Burns Grade School in the late 1950s.

Mike was intelligent, funny and kind. He passed 29 days after being diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

He is survived by his wife, Maxine, and daughter, Colleen at the family home in Coeur d’Alene; son, Patrick and daughter-in-law, Rachel Teater of Victor, Idaho; and numerous cousins. He is also survived by his Westie, Hap, and preceded in death by four other much-loved dogs.

At Mike’s request, he is being cremated and there will be no service at this time. His ashes will be placed in a niche at Riverview Cemetery during Father’s Day weekend and there will be a brief service at the cemetery.