Mike Furois, 41 of Spearfish, SD.
Michael Edward Furois was born on June 15, 1968 to Edward and Mary (Smith) Furois. He passed away on February 5, 2010 in Seattle, Washington due to complications from an infection.

Mike has three older sisters; Kathy Young, Carol Obenauer, and Lisa Hall. He married Kathy Pfeifer on August 2, 1991. They have three children; Alex (16), Megan (13) and David (9). Mike grew up in Spearfish, South Dakota and graduated from Spearfish High School. He received his bachelor's degree in Psychology from Montana State University, his Masters degree from Arizona State University and his Doctorate of Psychology from University of Northern Colorado. Mike loved his work at the Fort Meade VA Medical Center. He was a kind and compassionate counselor and felt deeply for the veterans that he worked with. He also enjoyed serving as an adjunct faculty professor for the Psychology Department at South Dakota State University in Rapid City, South Dakota and received the Teacher of the Year award twice during his employment there.

Mike loved spending time with his family camping, playing games, watching sunsets and snowfalls, spending evenings in long conversation, traveling, hunting and spending time on his friend Jason's ranch with his life-long friends. The Big Horn River was Mike's favorite place. He loved spending weekends there with his friend Jarod and his son Alex.

Mike was preceded in death by his grandparents, Russell and Rose Smith and Gilbert and Lucille Furois; and his big brown Labrador Rudy.

Mike is survived by his wife Kathy (Pfeifer) Furois; his children, Alex, Megan and David; his parents, Edward and Mary Furois; sisters, Kathy (Paul) Young, Carol (Dean) Obenauer, Lisa (Craig) Hall; parents in law, Merrill and Jane Pfeifer; brother in law, Kenny Pfeifer (Amber); sister in law, Tracy Dickerson (Steven) many nieces and nephews; and many dear friends.

Visitation will be from 2-5 P.M. on Thursday, February 11 at Fidler–Isburg Funeral Chapel in Spearfish. Rosary will be at 6:30 pm, Thursday, February 11 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Spearfish, SD for those who would like to attend with Vigil services to follow at 7:00 pm, all are welcome to attend. Mass of Christian Burial will be Friday, February 12 at 10:00 am at St. Joseph with interment at a later date.

Mike is a seven year cancer survivor and in the days before his death he was informed that his bone marrow showed that he had indeed conquered leukemia. You did it Mike, and we are all so proud of you for it! No one has ever fought as hard as you. You are a hero and an inspiration to many more than you could have ever known.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established at Pioneer Band and Trust. Monies will be directed to a college scholarship fund for the Furois children and to a Scholarship at the SDSU Graduate Psychology Program in Rapid City in Mikes honor.