Joseph Anthony Menicucci

Joseph Anthony Menicucci was born on March 3, 1948 to Louis and Virginia (LaFleur) Menicucci. He spent his school years in the Boy Scouts, playing baseball, serving as an altar boy, hunting and fishing with his brothers, and often creating chaos for his schoolteachers. He would pick fights with older students so his brother Alfred could beat them up; he would secretly listen to the World Series on a transistor radio during class; he managed to convince a group of young ladies to take notes for him in all of his classes because his handwriting was so bad; and, on one occasion, he ran away from school because he had already heard the story his first grade teacher was reading.  As everyone frantically searched for him, Joe watched calmly from his hiding spot on the roof of a neighboring house. In 1966, Joe graduated from Anaconda Central High School and went to work full-time, eventually settling in at Lutey’s Furniture Store. During a copper strike, Joe watched two squirrels play in the middle of one of the main streets of Anaconda for over a half hour and decided the time was right to go to college. Joe worked three jobs to put himself through college at Montana Tech, where he was an avid Oredigger fan and earned a B.A. in English in 1973. He was the instigator of the “Great Coffee Strike of ‘71” that ultimately forced administrators to return the price of a cup of coffee at the Tech Student Union to 10 cents after a significant price increase. Joe also often bemoaned the time he earned a 99% on a Montana History exam because, in his essay, he did not indicate that Marcus Daly was short of stature and had a moustache. Joe may or may not have been an integral member of an impromptu kazoo band that performed at Tech football games. In the summer following his graduation, Joe was watching a fire in Uptown Butte when he ran into a college friend, Kristine Williams. She suggested they go out on a date. He was obviously amenable, as the two were married on March 16 of the next year. At this time, Joe worked for KANA radio as an account executive and a sportscaster. Soon after, he was hired by the Anaconda Community Development Agency as a Rehabilitation Officer. In 1978, Kris gave birth to the couples’ only child, Joseph (Jr.). In 1981, Joe was hired by the Community Development Agency of Polson. He eventually became the Agency Director and the City Administrator. While in Polson, Joe also coached Joe Jr.’s little league team and founded the Little Big Men, a fantasy football team he brought with him to Belgrade in 1990 after accepting the position of City Manager. Joe absolutely loved Belgrade and was passionate about the economic development of the community. He was proud of many of the city’s accomplishments during his tenure as City Manager, but was especially proud, despite being a very liberal Democrat, that the City Hall on Thomas B. Quaw Square was built without using a single cent of taxpayer money. Joe also served on many boards and committees at both the local and state level: the Board of Directors of the Human Resource Development Council (HRDC) of District IX, the Board of Directors of the Montana Municipal Insurance Authority, the Montana Economic Development Advisory Council, and the Montana Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Advisory Committee, amongst many others. Joe was an avid New York Yankees fan who shared his passion with his wife, son, his daughter-in-law Penny, and generally anyone willing to listen or too polite to say they weren’t interested. Joe fulfilled a lifelong dream by visiting Yankee Stadium, first on a stadium tour and later for a game at which he watched Derek Jeter pass Joe DiMaggio on the all-time Yankee hit list en route to an 8-3 Yankee victory over the rival Boston Red Sox. Joe was also a fan of the Montana Grizzlies and, especially, Montana State Bobcats. He maintained season tickets for Grizzly football in the late 1980s and for Bobcat football from 1990 to the present. Joe was also a Notre Dame football fan; he had the opportunity to see the Fighting Irish play on two occasions. Joe also loved woodworking but was the king of the unfinished project. One project he did finish, however, was Joe Jr.’s beloved “toy bus”. Joe loved listening to music of all types (at great volume) and never missed any of his son’s performances, especially with the Montana State University Studio Lab Jazz Band and the Bozeman Symphony Orchestra. Joseph Anthony Menicucci, 65, loving husband, father, brother, Godfather, uncle, friend, and civil servant, died in his wife’s arms on Thursday, May 16, due to complications resulting from sepsis. He is survived by: his wife, Kristine; son, Joseph Jr.; daughter-in-law, Penny Citrola; sister, Ann Marie Jette; great-aunt and Godmother, Ethel Ungaretti; and many brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, cousins, and Godchildren. He is preceded in death by: his parents, Louis and Virginia; his brothers Alfred and Louie; his sisters-in-law Jo Ellen Loch, Judy Williams, and Sue Menicucci; his nieces, Rebecca Menicucci-Foster, Theresa Anton (Rickert), and Sara Loch; and his best friend, Freddie Dayton. Visitation took place Wednesday, May 22 at Dahl Funeral Home at 300 Highland Boulevard in Bozeman from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. A rosary and Vigil service followed. A funeral mass will be held Thursday, May 23 at 11 a.m. at Holy Rosary Parish at 220 W. Main Street in Bozeman with a reception to follow. The service will be webcast for those who want to attend, but cannot. Interment will take place Friday, May 24 at 11 a.m. at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Anaconda and will be followed by reception at the Copper Bowl. All are welcome. In lieu of flowers, please consider volunteering your time or making a donation to the program of your choice at the HRDC. The HRDC can be reached by phone at (406) 585-4890 or by email at thehrdc.org. Condolences and memories may be shared with the family at www.dahlcares.com.

GlobalGiving and Athletic Tips Partner to Help Keep Young Athletes Safe

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Thursday

Stumptown Players will present “Sylvia” at the O’Shaughnessy on Aug. 12-14 and Aug. 18-21 at 8 p.m. A Manhattan couple’s life is changed when the husband brings home a dog he found in the park. The comedy is recommended for adults and teens. Cabaret seating will be available, with beer, wine and snacks available. Tickets are $18 available by calling 871-6447 or visiting online at

Thursday

Stumptown Players will present “Sylvia” at the O’Shaughnessy on Aug. 12-14 and Aug. 18-21 at 8 p.m. A Manhattan couple’s life is changed when the husband brings home a dog he found in the park. The comedy is recommended for adults and teens. Cabaret seating will be available, with beer, wine and snacks available. Tickets are $18 available by calling 871-6447 or visiting online at

Thursday

Stumptown Players will present “Sylvia” at the O’Shaughnessy on Aug. 12-14 and Aug. 18-21 at 8 p.m. A Manhattan couple’s life is changed when the husband brings home a dog he found in the park. The comedy is recommended for adults and teens. Cabaret seating will be available, with beer, wine and snacks available. Tickets are $18 available by calling 871-6447 or visiting online at

Study outlines the road to economic recovery

Idaho's economic outlook improves, ranks 7th best nationally

COEUR d'ALENE - Idaho is already seen as one of the most business-friendly states, and a new study moves it up significantly when compared to other states.

KLT works to connect community to the land

Kaniksu Land Trust has worked to find ways to connect people with the land and address the unique needs of our local communities.

Rosendale talks policy, touts endorsements

State Auditor Matt Rosendale visited the Daily Inter Lake recently to discuss his candidacy for U.S. Senate. He is among a slate of four Republicans seeking to unseat Sen. Jon Tester.

Cradle-to-grave Cuba: Poised for rebirth?

The 1986 measures taken against South Africa surely hastened the end of apartheid. In most other cases, embargoes are a blunder. Take Cuba. We started imposing sanctions against Cuba a half century ago. Where have they gotten us?

Spy balloons offer new view of Jerusalem

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli police are watching from above in their attempts to keep control in Jerusalem in the face of the city’s worst wave of violence in nearly a decade.

County weed board researching assessment funding

Residents are asked visit an online survey and answer a few questions.

Biden turns to Colorado to pitch investments in clean energy

LONG BEACH, Calif. (AP) — While legislators craft the details back in Washington, President Joe Biden is pitching his massive domestic spending package with a visit to a renewable energy lab in Colorado to highlight how the investments in clean energy in his massive spending package would help combat climate change.

Asia Today: Japan slowdown not enough, Beijing parks reopen

BANGKOK (AP) — Japan's social-distancing efforts are slowing infections but not enough to stave off further spread of the coronavirus, a government minister said Friday, adding that experts are recommending the state of emergency remain in place.

Rosendale talks policy, touts endorsements

State Auditor Matt Rosendale visited the Daily Inter Lake recently to discuss his candidacy for U.S. Senate. He is among a slate of four Republicans seeking to unseat Sen. Jon Tester.

‘People are angry and hurt’

Idaho’s U.S. Sen. Risch visits Ukraine as Russia attacks

‘People are angry and hurt’: Idaho’s U.S. Sen. Risch visits Ukraine as Russia attacks

NIC: Trustees to discuss NWCCU visit, trustee residency requirements

Board meeting at 5 p.m.

The North Idaho College Board of Trustees will meet to discuss the planned accreditation organization planned site visit and trustee residency requirements, and select a presidential search firm at 5 p.m. on Wednesday in the Edminster Student Union Building, Lake Coeur d’Alene room on the NIC main campus.

Coeur d'Alene 84-year-old looks forward to finally graduating from college

Coeur d'Alene 84-year-old looks forward to finally graduating from college

Unfinished business remains unfinished for many people. Not for Richard Gauntlett. He recently went back to school to major in history after illness forced him to leave college early. He has an A in one class and a B+ in the other. As a freshman again at Oregon State University, he is on academic probation for the not-so-great GPA that was on his record when he dropped left. He's optimistic, though, that the probation will soon be lifted. Gauntlett and his family believe it's never too late to finish something you started — even if that something was started more than six decades ago.

AP News Digest 7 a.m.

Here are the AP’s latest coverage plans, top stories and promotable content. All times EDT. For up-to-the minute information on AP’s coverage, visit Coverage Plan at

AP News Digest 7 a.m.

Here are the AP's latest coverage plans, top stories and promotable content. All times EDT. For up-to-the minute information on AP's coverage, visit Coverage Plan at https://newsroom.ap.org.

Ray Eudell Knight

Ray Eudell Knight