On August the 28th, 2016, the greatest pilot to ever fly the skies made his final flight check, and flew peacefully into the clear skies above.  That day, as Monte would say, was "good flyin' weather.” A Graveside Service will be held on Saturday, September 10, 1:00 PM at Sun River Cemetery, MT.

Monte E. McCann, son of Everett and Olive McCann, was born in Cameron, Missouri on January the 23rd, 1931. Growing up during the great depression and World War II, Monte struggled along with his family to make ends meet.  In grammar school, he milked cows for 15¢ a cow every morning.  With things being difficult in those days, Monte would fondly recall the day he had his first real soda pop, an Orange Crush when he was eight years old.   In the summer he would pack several horses with the family hunting gear all the way from Vaughn, Mt to the Rocky Mountain Front, setting up camp for his dad and uncles in preparation for the yearly hunting trip.

Throughout high school, Monte maintained the reputation as the wild one in the family.  Stories of his escapades echo to this day in the halls of Sims High, where he was class president in 1949.
When he was 16, Monte began flight training, and soloed that year.  This began a long career of flying the skies as a commercial pilot.  In 1953, Monte, along with his best buddy and brother in law, John Yurko, took the airframe and power plant course though the Northrup Aeronautical Institute.  Monte logged nearly 20,000 hours of flight time in many different aircraft.  One of the highlights of a long flying career was his duty flying parts and personnel during the Cold War missile construction.  He was a favorite of the Two Star General in charge, who chose him as his personal pilot, instead of the Air force pilots on site.  He also loved signing on during the fire season, flying the fires and carrying smoke jumpers to their locations.

After high school, Monte enlisted in the Air National Guard.  In 1951, as the War in Korea fired up, Monte received, by registered mail, his notice of activation to the regular Air Force.  For two years he served on active duty as the crew chief on a P-51 Mustang at George Air Force training base in California. Monte was humble about his service, but in late life he became a proud member of the American Legion.

In 1953, Monte met the love of his life Lorraine, and they were married on September 19th, that same year.  Monte and Lorraine went through many trials.  They were in it to the end, spending 63 years together in marriage.  Lorraine was his one true love and best friend to the end.
Together Monte and Lorraine had four children.  Michael (Bonnie), Kathleen Harvey (Cody), Steven(Felicia) and Kelly (Magnolia)

He was intensely proud of his children and all of their accomplishments.  His grandchildren and great-grandchildren owned his whole heart. Monte passed peacefully by natural causes, surrounded by his Wife and his children.

Monte is proceeded in death by his son and buddy Steven "Bug" McCann, and his little brother Paul McCann and his parents.

Monte is survived by his wife Lorraine; daughter, Kathy; sons, Michael and Kelly; 13 grandchildren, 13 great- grandchildren; sisters, Sally Remy and Carolyn (Jerry) Banek; brother, Leon (Linda) McCann; sister-in-law’s, Bonnie Yurko, Helen Lee, Lois Thayer, and numerous nieces and nephews. 

When asked how many miles he had flown he answered " Oh probably over a million. And they were all real good miles".

 Service Information