Former Mineral County sheriff fondly remembered

When a fella makes sure that instead of a funeral to be held for him, he asks for everyone to go fishing and have a beer instead, you can tell that this man was a salt of the earth guy.

Mickey O’Brien was born in 1936 in Missoula but was primarily raised in Spokane with his other six siblings. He attended Gonzaga Prep during high school where he became an All-American on their football team.

He came back to the Big Sky Country and attended the University of Montana and played for the Griz. But during his junior year, he sustained an injury which sidelined him and that pretty much made just going to school un-fun, so he left school and took a different direction.

Mickey had a distinguished career in law enforcement and was elected as sheriff of Mineral County from 1990 to 1998. Those were the years that timber and mining were the cash crops and methamphetamine labs were popping up along with several marijuana growing operations. “It was pretty bad and there was one day that we took down three labs all in one day,” remembers Anita Parkin who was his undersheriff and followed Mikey’s footsteps taking over as sheriff in 1998.

“He was my mentor and a great friend. Actually, Mickey and Alice and Ralph and I had dinner and played pinochle every Friday night for over 30 years,” as she speaks of their spouses.

JD Douglas works for the State of Montana but was a deputy from 1997-2001 and also has fond memories.

“Mickey was the epitome of the small-town sheriff and he did it correctly. Probably the nicest guy you could ever ask to work for, but you knew where you stood with him and what he expected out of you.”

Mike Toth, Mineral County Sheriff, remembers O’Brien as very fair. “He was the old fashioned, honest ‘hand-shake is your word’ type of guy. He really updated the department back then and was respected by the community and staff alike.”

Dick Feldbrugge, who is a long-time resident in Superior, fished with Mickie frequently.

On the ice or in a boat, the two of them spent many hours on the water over the years. “One of Mickey’s sayings as he was reeling in the lure and it hit a rock or a snag as he tried to set the hook, ‘I’d of had that one if it was a fish,’“ Dick recalls laughing. “And don’t ever mess up like dropping your rod in the water or knocking a beer over as he never forgot and would tease the dickens out of you!”

Fishing and football were two of his favorite things along with helping people. He coached

junior high School football in Superior for a couple of seasons which he thoroughly enjoyed.

Alice O’Brien said they were married 58 years and talked about making it to 60 years which

would have been November 2022.

They moved to Spokane about four years ago to be closer to their only child, Michael, who is an over-the-road truck driver.

She asked that in lieu of flowers, please donate to the Superior Area Ambulance Service.