Michael Bowden

Mike was born September 28, 1949, to Patricia and Kenneth Bowden in Poplar Bluff, Missouri and passed away on November 21, 2022, in Evanston, Wyoming.  He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Vivian Bowden, and 3 adult children Duane Bowden (Melissa), Christina Doran (Jason) and Patrick Bowden (Elizabeth).  He is also survived by 2 sisters Mary Elaine Bowden, Patricia Becker (James) and 1 brother, David Bowden (Diana), and numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews, and friends.  Mike was predeceased by his parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and other family members.

Mike was raised in Missouri until his family moved to the Antelope Valley in California’s Mojave Desert.  He was an avid hunter, fisherman, and archer, and passed his love of those activities on to his children. His other endeavors include aircraft (he spent most of his working years in the aircraft industry in Antelope Valley and at Edwards Air Force Base) and doing construction as a framer and finish carpenter.  Mike served in the United States Navy during Vietnam but spent most of his time stateside at N.A.S. Lemoore, California performing Maintenance duties.  He also signed up for a brief time in the United States Army National Guard and was a tank driver.

Mike was quiet, patient, and good-natured.  He enjoyed helping people and spent many years volunteering as a baseball and softball coach, as well as umpiring games for Palmdale Little League baseball and softball.  When he retired, we moved to Evanston where he loved spending time with family and friends, going antelope, deer, and elk hunting, going ice fishing, and also driving the children around town in the little train during the annual Cowboy Days celebration.

In early 2021 he told our doctor that he had quit smoking in September 2020 but felt worse after quitting.  Our doctor sent him for a CT scan and then to the Huntsman Cancer Institute in Salt Lake City, Utah where after several weeks of testing he received a diagnosis of stage 4 sarcoma Lung Cancer in August 2021.  He underwent a partial lung removal surgery, immunotherapy, and radiation. None of these treatments had any noticeable impact on his main sarcoma tumor (nicknamed “the White Monster”) as it had attached to his aorta and was inoperable.  The cancer spread to several other vital organs. It ultimately ended his life.

A Celebration of Mike’s Life will be held in the Summer of 2023. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Cancer Research Charity of your choice. Thank you, and God Bless.