Northern Wyoming News - Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years

Michael George Raicevich, 66, passed away in Casper on Sunday, December 11, 2016. Mike was born on October 3, 1950, in Thermopolis, Wyoming, the firstborn child of Mich and Jo Raicevich. He was raised in Kirby, Wyoming, where he attended a two room country school and graduated from Hot Springs County High School in 1969. While in high school he excelled in football, basketball and track. Mike proudly served in the US Army, 101st Airborne Division, during the Vietnam War as an artilleryman at fire bases near the demilitarized zone. The GI Bill enabled Mike to attend Casper College and attain a degree in Petroleum Technology.

Mike married Lynne Plymale on October 8, 1971. They had three children, Georgia Michelle, Joe and Troy. They lived and worked in Casper, Cody, Riverton and Thermopolis, Wyoming where Mike worked in the drilling portion of the oil/gas industry in the western and central United States for Marathon, Moncrief and Monsanto Oil Companies. Mike and Lynne also owned and operated several businesses in Thermopolis including Terrace Liquors and More than Flowers, as well as an independent consultant company, MG Raicevich, Inc. Mike moved his family to Louisiana where he supervised offshore rigs in the Gulf of Mexico. He was also in on the leading edge of directional drilling technology and taught many who are still in the industry. Mike and Lynne divorced in 1989, and Mike moved to Denver as a Drilling Superintendent for Meridian Oil Company.

Mike's life path changed when he suffered a stroke in 1990 at the age of 39, but he faced each day since then with determination and courage and lived his life to fullest, dealing with the adversity of impaired speech and paralysis. He met his best friend, Martha Empfield, in Casper, and they have enjoyed the past 25 years together. Mike enjoyed watching sports on TV, especially the Denver Broncos, liked to hunt, fish and gamble. He enjoyed spending time at the family cabin in the Big Horns and road trips to visit family. Mike had a magnetic personality and made friends easily wherever he went. He was caring and compassionate and he never overlooked a chance to help anyone in any way that he could. He never stopped stressing the importance of working hard and getting the best education possible.

He is survived by Martha Empfield of Casper and their Pekingese, Sadie; three children, Georgia Michelle Pierce (Cody) of Longmont, Colorado; Joe Raicevich of Seattle, Washington; and Troy Raicevich (Jodi) of Casper. Mike is also survived by three grandchildren: Olivia, Gage and Deakin Raicevich of Casper and three sisters: Shelley Deromedi (Jerry) of Thermopolis; Patricia Dickeson (Truman) of Rathdrum, Idaho; and Marta Hartman (John) of Cheyenne as well as numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, several aunts and uncles and a niece.

Services will be held on Thursday, December 15th at 11:00 A.M. at Mortimore Funeral Home, 620 Arapahoe Street, in Thermopolis. Memorials may be made to the People for People Backpack Program, 292 Coventry Circle, Thermopolis, WY 82443 or to a charity important to you.

Mortimore Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences can be offered at http://www.mortfh.com.