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Dr. David Francis Michie, Jr., went home to be with Jesus on Friday, April 10, 2026. He was born September 3, 1933, to David Francis Michie, Sr., and Grace Vivette (Madden) Michie, at the Michie family home in Rawlins, Wyoming.
Known as “D.F.” by family and friends, he attended elementary school in Rawlins, Wyoming. D.F. graduated from Rawlins High School in 1951. He then attended the University of Wyoming in Laramie for two years, where he was affiliated with Sigma Alpha Epsilon. D.F. was very proud to be the grandson of an American Union Army veteran who served during the Civil War. To honor his grandfather, John Charles Michie, D.F. enlisted in the United States Army during the Korean War and served for two years.
During this time, he married the true love of his life and childhood sweetheart, Bess Anne “Betsy” McKay on June 17, 1955, in Rawlins, Wyoming. Because both his parents died when he was young, D.F. was obligated to determine his own future, which he did in excellent fashion with Betsy by his side. The couple had six children, two of whom died as infants. They were married 58 years when Betsy died on June 8, 2013.
When D.F. was discharged from the United States Army in the spring of 1956, Betsy encouraged him and worked for many years to help him continue his education. He graduated from college in 1960, at Regis University in Denver, Colorado. He then went on to earn his D.D.S., as a Doctor of Dental Surgery in 1964, at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska.
After graduating from Creighton Dental School, D.F. returned to serve as a prior-enlisted officer in the United States Army during the Vietnam War. He was stationed at the Defense Intelligence Agency from 1964 to 1966, in Arlington, Virginia, serving as an Army dentist at Arlington Hall Station and Fort Myers, Virginia. D.F. took great pride in having served his country twice as an enlisted soldier, and then as a prior-enlisted officer. When the Gulf War started in 1990, D.F. volunteered “to go” once again and serve his country as an Army dentist. Even though his time as a soldier would have long come to an end as a reservist, D.F. received a letter of appreciation from then President George H. W. Bush, thanking David F. Michie for his offer to serve.
The Catholic Church was very important to D.F, and he attended daily Mass for many years. He promoted praying the Rosary, and the message of the Divine Mercy of Jesus Christ. He was appointed to be an extraordinary minister of the Holy Eucharist in 1975, at Saint Joseph’s Catholic Church in Rawlins, Wyoming. D.F. was a 4th Degree member of Knights of Columbus and served as the State Deputy for Wyoming from 1974 to 1976.
D.F. enjoyed coaching Little League Football in Rawlins, Wyoming. He was proud to serve as a volunteer fireman for the City of Rawlins, retiring as Assistant Fire Chief. He was also a member of the Lions Club in Rawlins, Wyoming. D.F. participated in the annual Tootsie-Roll drive for the Knights of Columbus, raising money for charity. He was also known to canvas the town back in the day, walking door-to-door to collect used eyeglasses from anyone who could donate. The used eyeglasses would then be refurbished for children in need as a service project for the Rawlins Lions Club.
When he was in college and dental school, D.F. famously led the neighborhood children during “trick-or-treat” fun, to fill pillowcases with candy. The funny irony was the fact that he was going to be a dentist, but he never missed an opportunity to get free candy.
When D.F. was an Army dentist, he spent an entire summer visiting every exhibit at the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, D.C. He was an avid Civil War buff – and later in life he visited every Civil War battlefield with his wife, Betsy. His time as an Army dentist was when D.F. began to offer a game of checkers to anyone who would play him. D.F. said his own father challenged him to a daily game of checkers when he was old enough to play.
Having been an athlete during his own youth in football, basketball, and track, D.F. supported school activities and sports as a loyal advocate for his children and their friends. D.F. and Betsy both took great pride in attending local school activities and sports events. D.F. invested in video equipment to film practices and games for the Rawlins Outlaw Football teams for several years when his sons played football. His films were so good, the coaches and teammates would gather in the Michie family home every weekend to view film.
D.F. enjoyed camping and fishing with his family in Snowy Range, located in the Medicine Bow National Forest. Eventually D.F. and Betsy bought a boat and then retired their family’s camping adventures to their lake house at Seminoe Boat Club in Wyoming. D.F. then enjoyed hosting BBQ dinners and camping for his sons’ football teammates at Seminoe Boat Club. Their final adventure together would be their move in retirement to Florida, before returning home to Rawlins prior to Betsy’s death. Retirement in Florida provided many occasions for D.F. to relax and enjoy time in the sun visiting Disney World and the water fountains in Clearwater with Betsy, grandchildren, family, and friends. D.F.’s final project became the care and maintenance of family graves in the Rawlins Cemetery.
As a veteran of the United States Army, D.F. patiently waited his turn in line for eight years, to be “service connected” with the VA (Veterans Administration) for Hospice someday. It was his deepest wish to receive his “Final Salute” at the VA in Cheyenne, Wyoming. During that time, D.F. was cared for at home by his children in home healthcare. When the call came from the VA in Cheyenne saying they finally had a place for him in their hospice, it was not going to be possible to transport D.F at that point. With dedication and the very best care at Memorial Hospital of Carbon County in Rawlins, D.F. passed peacefully from this life into Eternity.
D.F. was then honored by the administration and staff at Memorial Hospital of Carbon County to receive their first ever “Final Salute” with the “Honor Walk.” What would have happened at the VA for D.F., was implemented for him in his hometown hospital by CEO Kerry Ashment, COO Stephanie Hinkle, and the hospital staff. Playing “Taps” over the intercom tells everyone we have just lost a hero. As the flag-covered hero passes through the halls lined with people, those who are veterans salute the hero – thus…the “Final Salute.”
The family of David Francis Michie would like to thank Kerry Ashment, Stephanie Hinkle, the EMTs with the hospital’s ambulance crew, the entire staff at Memorial Hospital of Carbon County, Barb James, Patricia Perez, Best Home Healthcare to include Deana, Stephanie, Mary, Liz and Buena. It goes without saying D.F. and his family are grateful to every person at the Cheyenne VA who took care of him during his lifetime. And finally, the family is thankful to everyone at Casada Funeral Home in Rawlins, Wyoming. It takes a village…
David Francis Michie, Jr., was preceded in death by his parents, David Francis Michie, Sr., and Grace Vivette (Madden) Michie; his wife, Bess Anne “Betsy” Michie; two infant children; and eleven Michie siblings. His brothers who preceded him in death were John (Betty Lou), Tom (Patricia), Fran, Jerry – and the first David, Jr., and James, both of whom died as children. His sisters who preceded him in death were Ellen (Glenn), Margaret (Clarence), Rachel (George), Alyce – and Elizabeth, who died as a child.
David Francis Michie, Jr., is survived by four children, Melanie, David III, Christopher (Kim), and Miriam; numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and cousins.
David Francis Michie, Jr., cherished lifetime friendships with classmates from Rawlins High School, Creighton Dental School, the Knights of Columbus, and his church. Especially to his dear friends Abe DeHerrera, Larry Jebens, and Tom Montoya, he said to say, “See you later.”
Cremation has taken place with Casada Funeral Home in Rawlins.
Services will be held at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Rawlins, Wyoming on a date to be announced. At that time, services will include a Rosary prayer service, a Catholic Mass – followed by burial in the Rawlins Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations to organizations supporting American veterans would be dearly appreciated by D.F.’s family. Suggestions are as follows:
Disabled American Veterans (www.dav.org);
Gary Sinise Foundation (www.garysinisefoundation.org);
Tunnel-to-Towers Foundation (Tunnel to Towers Foundation (tunnel2towers.org).
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Legacy
David F. Michie Jr. DDS
September 3, 1933 – April 10, 2026
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