Michael Peter Yearout

Michael Peter Yearout of Manhattan, Kansas, passed away on July 27, 2025, due to old age. He was 92 years old and at his passing he fully intended to stick around but his body was tired and worn out. Mike resided in the home of his son and daughter-in-law, having 4 generations attending church and eating together at the table.

Born on February 11, 1933, in Yakima, Washington, the 4 th of 6 children to his parents Peter Harold Yearout and Maxine Trego McCachren. When he was 3 years old Dad lost his birthmother Maxine due to childbirth and complications caused by Pneumonia, Penicillin wasn’t invented yet. His father married Erna Opal Cromer who has the distinction of being his rearing mother, raising him and his 2 older brothers. He lived in the Columbia Basin and the Pacific Northwest most of his life as his father and family moved about the many construction projects of that era. Dad loved the old radio programs and recalled how the family all helped to clean up after dinner so everyone could sit and listen to the next episode.

His youth was filled with outdoor adventures, hunting, fishing, and exploring the rustic rural areas where the construction company housed employees. He shared stories of riding his bike with friends, swimming and fishing, traveling a distance of over 20 miles one-way for fun. When he graduated high school, he held the distinction of basketball king in the days before the 3-point rule launching the ball near the half court line. When I was young, Dad would take the family on Sunday rides to show what was left of the small towns of his youth and explain how everything we took for granted developed from when his father and older brother worked on the Grand Coulee Dam and Bureau of Reclamation projects that brought power and irrigation to the Columbia Basin desert.0

Mike enlisted into the U.S. Army 17 April 1953 as a refrigeration technician. He arrived in the Korean War Zone and was assigned to the signal corps. No jobs for refrigeration tech he convinced the property book holder that he needed someone on the inside of the storage facility guarding thereby creating a job and securing private quarters away from the barracks. He spent 1 year and 5 months on the Korean Peninsula. Upon honorable release from active-duty Mike rejoined his parents.

His father started a construction company during the years his son was away. Mike quickly joined the rest of the family laying irrigation canals. During this period of time Mike was introduced to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was baptized and was a devoted serving member for the rest of his life. Mike retired in 1999 from church employment as a building maintenance technician. He traveled a 100-mile radius managing the maintenance of 5 stakes.

Mike was able to do most anything like most every man of his generation. He began in his youth working as a grocery store clerk, then to construction, military service, Titan II missile program assembly inspector, Heavy equipment/automotive shop maintenance, service station, the sale and service of campers, boats, motors and trailers.

He was married to Noreta Colleen Hansen in 1958; they brought 4 sons into the world. In 1979 they divorced. In 1980 Mike married Lola Mae Darley. With her came another son and 4 daughters who quickly took to him. On 20 October 2021 his beloved passed away.

Dad was always a calm loving person whose patients enabled him to teach. Those who worked for him or who he worked with through the course of his life have nothing but praise for him. Dad and Lola Mom lived in Springfield Oregon area nearly 42 years. After his wife passed away Mike came to live in the Manhattan Kansas area for his remaining years. As I informed his friends in Oregon of his passing, the common thread uttered was, I loved that man. His gentle soul will be missed.

Mike is survived by his sons Paul Yearout anchorage AK, Steve Yearout (Dorothy) Moses Lake WA, Craig Yearout (Heidi) Manhattan KS. From his second marriage Ron Sparks (Terri), Sharon Sparks McConkie Chamberlain (Rodger), Debbie Sparks Curtis, Cindy Sparks Schmidt (Wade), Tina Sparks Schneider (George). Various nieces and nephews and several grandchildren and great grandchildren, special mention granddaughter Stephnie Curtis Canterbury who was beside her grandpa until the end.

Proceeded in death by his mothers’ Maxine McCrachren Yearout 1936, Erna Cromer Yearout, father Peter Yearout, brother Terrence, (Shannon), Robin “Bob” 1 st wife (Erma), living 2 nd wife (Martha), sister Sally Claire Yearout 1931, Sister Sally Maxine Yearout 1938, sister Marilee Yearout Hiddleston (Gary), brother John Yearout (Susanne). Son Kurt Yearout 1981 (Janice) living, son in law Paul McConkie.

A graveside service will be held on 8 August, 10am at the Minidoka Acequia Rupert Cemetery, 450 North Meridian, Rupert, Idaho, 83350 USA Coordinates: 42.68401, -113.66545