Michael James Chapman Eulogy - Life Story

Michael James Chapman was born on December 30,1945 - and passed away in Laramie, Wyoming, on Tuesday, June 16th, 2026.

Mike Chapman was born in Baker, Montana, 39 miles from his hometown of Ekalaka, Carter County, Montana. Parents Terry (Ted) S. Chapman and G. Gladys (Thompson) Chapman welcomed Mike to the family of Juanita M. Chapman (Blankenship) and Margaret A. Chapman (Osborn) to their home. Later, an adopted sister, Annette R. Chapman (Cline) joined the family.

Mike spent his first 18 years in his hometown of Ekalaka where growing up was a real adventure with a full cast of interesting and caring community members.

Mike graduated in 1964 from Carter County High School and enlisted in the U.S. Army immediately after graduation. He completed Basic Training at Fort Ord, California and Special Training at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana, He was posted to Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Fort Belvoir, Virginia, and numerous assignments around the U. S, including the island of San Domingo. He served in Korea and Vietnam before his enlistment ended in 1967.

In the spring of 1963, at a dance in the Belltower Community Hall on Box Elder Creek, Mike met a beautiful girl from South Dakota, Miss Betty A. Brabazon, and in 1968 their two lives became one.

He completed his undergraduate education at Montana State University in Billings, Montana, following classes at the University of Maryland’s Extension Campuses in Seoul, Korea; Bozeman, Montana, and Greeley Colorado. Mike also completed his graduate degree in Billings, Montana, and a postgraduate degree at the University of Wyoming.

Following their marriage in 1968, Mike and Betty lived in Billings, Montana, and worked in the Billings Public Schools. In 1981, they moved to Big Horn, Wyoming, where Mike was the Elementary Principal. In 1983, they moved to Rawlins, Wyoming, where Mike was the Middle School Principal and Betty worked as a librarian at Mountain View, Pershing and Sinclair Schools. She then accepted a position as the High School Librarian and remained there until her retirement in 2010.

Following the completion of his Postgraduate Degree in school administration, MIke accepted a position in Brady, Montana, as Superintendent/Principal of their school system. Following this, Mike moved to the Hardin Public School system as Principal of the Crow Agency Public School and remained there until his retirement in 2000.

Starting at a young age, Mike worked at many jobs: for his Dad in Construction, janitorial work at a local cafe, and on some of the many ranches which were in Carter County. One summer at his grandparents in Fossil, Oregon, he worked as a driver for the John Day Valley Freight Line and assisted his grandfather with rural mail delivery.

Mike loved hunting and fishing and woodworking in a small home shop. He also worked as a part-time bartender in Billings as well as a movie theater projectionist. For several summers he worked for the Montana Bureau of Land Management as a Corp Supervisor for the Youth Conservation Corp on the Wild Horse Range in the Pryor Mountains.

Mike will be remembered by a great many friends and relatives as a prolific story teller. This made him a fascinating entertainer who could remember a story about almost any topic or event. He always was most proud of and spoke highly of his home town of Elakaka. Many of his stories were about his growing up there and the people and happenings that played an important part in his formative years.

Three dates marked the most important events of his life:

- His marriage to Betty in 1968

- The birth of their son, Tyler, in 1976

- The birth of their daughter, Sarah, in 1978

Mike is preceded in death by his parents, T.S. Chapman and Gladys Herbst. Left to mourn his passing is his wife of over 58 years, children Tyler (Annabel) and Sarah (Jason Delo) and his precious grandchildren Katie and Kagen Chapman, and Sterling and Tempest Delo.