- Date Of Birth: May 22, 1942
- Date Of Death: May 16, 2016
- State: Montana
Gene “Butch” Boyle passed away Monday, May 16, 2016, at Hidden Meadow Memory Care. His wife and two daughters were at his side.
He was born to Eugene and Susan Boyle on May 22, 1942, in Cut Bank. Gene married his wife Barbara Whiteley on August 3,1968, at St. Thomas Catholic Church in Coeur d‘Alene. They had their first daughter, Brenda, in May of 1969 in Coeur d’Alene, ID, and their daughter Deanna in October of 1974 in Choteau, MT.
He attended St. Margaret’s Catholic Elementary School then Cut Bank High School, graduating in 1960. He participated in football, basketball, baseball and track.
Gene earned his Bachelor of Science degree in math and science education from Carroll College in 1964. In 1971, he earned his Master of Education in Counseling from Whitworth University, and in 1982 earned his Administrative endorsement from the University of Montana.
His first teaching and coaching job took him to Immaculate Heart of Mary High School in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. The teams there were very successful, going four years undefeated in football and winning back-to-back State basketball championships in 1967 and 1968. They had baseball in tact, then added track and he coached both simultaneously. Gene was the only male full-time teacher on a faculty of IHM sisters. The years at IHM have been referred to as the Camelot years for the people involved; it certainly was. In the summers of 1964 to 1968 he and Charlie Nipp coached the Legion baseball teams and made many memories.
In 1970, he accepted a job at Lewiston High School as Math and Biology teacher, and head basketball coach and assistant football and track coach. In 1972, he was hired as Choteau’s Biology teacher and head football coach and assistant basketball and track coach.
In 1976, Gene accepted the position at Flathead High School as head football coach and Math teacher, then Dean of Students. He coached the Braves for five seasons, playing for the State championship in 1980. In the fall of 1981, he became the Activities Director/Assistant Principal, a job he held until 1998. In 1987 he was named Montana High School Assiciation’s Athletic Director of the Year.
Gene retired from School District 5 in 1998, and accepted the principal position at St. Matthew’s Catholic School. He thought it was only fitting that since he started his career at a Catholic school he should end at a Catholic school. St. Matt’s was K-6 until 2002, at which time they added eighth grade. This meant, of course, they had to have a Saints football team! He loved coaching the 7th-8th grade Saints football team.
He was also able to coach at Flathead High School again in 1998 as assistant football and head softball coach until 2004. The Bravette softball team won the State title in 2003. In 2004, Gene was named a legend for the renaming of Rawson football field to Legends Stadium. He was principal at St. Matt’s for 11 years, retiring in 2009. He was inducted into the Carroll College Alumni Hall of Fame in 2009.
Gene was preceded in death by his father Eugene Boyle Sr., and mother Susan (O’Loughlin) Boyle. He is survived by his wife Barbara, and their daughters Brenda (Keith Boone), and Deanna (Chris McElwee); his three grandsons, Tanner Boone and Owen and Teague McElwee; his brother Tom and wife Sheila; his aunts, Gertrude Peterson and Ann Anderson; his sister-in-law, Mickey Goolie; as well as seven nieces, one nephew and several cousins.
Gene’s family would especially like to thank Hidden Meadow Memory Care Center for their wonderful care the last few months.
