Michael John Mahony was born November 19, 1946 in Cedar Rapids, Nebraska. He was the 10th of 14 children born to Charles and Katherine (Babbitt) Mahony. He attended country school east of O’Neill before attending St. Mary’s High School. He graduated in 1965. When he was young, Mike enjoyed rodeoing and competed in steer wrestling and bull riding.
After high school, Mike embarked on a life filled with many adventures and detours that took him all around the country. He settled back in O’Neill and started working for O’Neill Farms in the early 1980’s. In 1994, Mike bought into the Ericson/Spalding Sale Barn with his brothers. He retired from O’Neill Farms and sold his stake in the sale barn in the early 2000’s to focus on his own ranching endeavors that eventually included his son, Curt. Mike met Kim Reiter in 2000 and they became friends and partners for the rest of his life.
Mike was a member of Alcoholics Anonymous and had just celebrated 41 years of sobriety. Through his sobriety, he was able to help and eventually befriend many people at AA and Valley Hope. Mike was also a member of the St. Patrick’s Catholic Church.
Mike always enjoyed driving through pastures and checking on his cattle with his sidekicks, Peyton, Kade, and Reed. He enjoyed football, playing cards, and an occasional wager or two.
Mike is survived by his wife, Kim Mahony of O’Neill; four children, Cyndy Pfeiffer of Herman, NE, Aimy (Bob Adair) Mahony of Wagner, SD, Marny Plog of Omaha, Curt Mahony of O’Neill; four step children, Travis Reiter of Kearney, Heather Landauer of Albion, Tosha (Shawn) Murdock of Ericson, Tyler (Makayla) Reiter of Ericson; 10 grandchildren; 10 step grandchildren; seven great grandchildren plus two on the way; seven siblings, Bette Boyle of O’Neill, Charlene Boyle of Lincoln, Aggie (Paul) Halverson of Utah, Rosemary Cooley of Missouri, Kevin (Patty) Mahony of Inman, Theresa (Gary) Parker of Kansas; mother-in-law, Sandra Madsen of Neligh; father-in-law, Jerry Horwart of Ericson; many nieces, nephews, friends, and his special AA Family.
He is preceded in death by his parents; his daughter, Jill Mikkelson; six siblings, Maureen Rohde, Mary Jo Gallager, Karen Ramold, Pauline Carr, Patrick Mahony, and Sister Colleen Mahony.
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