Father Thomas J. Fenlon, a priest for the Diocese of Helena for 67 years, died at Crest Nursing Home in Butte on Tuesday morning, April 21, 2009.

He was born in Butte on Aug. 28, 1917, to Thomas and Margaret (Brennan) Fenlon. He attended Immaculate Conception Grade School and Boys’ Central High School.

He attended St. Edward’s Seminary in Seattle for his degrees in philosophy and theology. He was ordained to the Catholic priesthood on May 30, 1942, at Immaculate Conception Church in Butte.

Father Fenlon served in four parishes as assistant pastor at St. Paul’s, Anaconda, St. Patrick’s and St. Joseph’s in Butte, and St. Anthony’s in Missoula, where he also served as Newman Chaplain at the University of Montana.

He was pastor at St. John’s in Fairfield for nine years, then became pastor of St. William’s in Dutton in 1962.

He also served as pastor of St. John’s in Frenchtown, St. Paul’s in Anaconda, Sacred Heart in Ronan and Our Lady of Mercy in Eureka. After reaching senior status, he resided in Helmville and provided priestly ministry for St. Thomas the Apostle Parish in Helmville and St. Jude the Apostle Mission in Lincoln.

He resided in Butte since 1997.

Survivors include his sister, Eugenia Faure, and her children, Greg, John, Tom and Margaret Faure; and his nephews and nieces, Mary Jane, Alice, John and Alfred Olson.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Mary Olson and Alice; nephews, Ray Faure and Tom Olson; and brothers-in-law, Ray Faure and John Olson.

A vigil service took place Sunday, April 26, in St. Ann’s Church in Butte. The Mass of Resurrection was celebrated Monday in St. Ann’s, followed by Christian burial in the priests’ plot at Holy Cross Cemetery.


Published in The Montana Catholic, Vol. 25, No. 5, May 15, 2009.