Father Edward Courtney, whose half century as a priest included service at Butte’s St. John the Evangelist Parish from 1983-2007, died on Saturday, Jan. 9, in Butte. He was 80 years old.

Father Courtney abided by the message to “listen for the presence of God,” which he heard on the “Catholic Hour” during his childhood. He asked his grandmother to delay his bedtime so could listen to the radio program.

The vigil was on Tuesday, Jan. 12. at St. John the Evangelist Parish in Butte. Bishop George Leo Thomas celebrated the funeral Mass on Wednesday, Jan. 13, also at St. John Parish. Burial at Holy Cross Cemetery in Butte followed.

Father Courtney was born in Butte on Aug. 23, 1929, to Edward and Mary Elizabeth Courtney and grew up in the city, where he was active in Immaculate Conception Parish. He studied at Boys’ Central High School in Butte, Carroll College in Helena and St. Edward Seminary in Kenmore, Wash.

Father Courtney was ordained on May 28, 1955.

Besides his 20-plus years at St. John the Evangelist, assignments in the Diocese of Helena included Cathedral of St. Helena Parish in Helena; St. Matthew Parish in Kalispell; St. Peter Parish in Anaconda; Holy Rosary Parish in Bozeman; Christ the King Parish in Missoula; and Holy Spirit Parish in Butte.

During the 1960s he served in campus ministry at the Montana State University Newman Center in Bozeman. In a 2005 interview with The Montana Standard in Butte, Father Courtney recalled helping students create floats for the MSU homecoming parade, including a float featuring a replica of the Cathedral of St. Helena.

In 1971, he took a leave of absence from diocesan assignments. He then worked in an addiction-recovery program at Lake Orion, Mich.; for the Archdiocese of Detroit; and with the Paraclete religious community in St. Louis. He also worked in alcoholism programs in Great Falls and Butte.

In 2005, Father Courtney celebrated 50 years as a priest. In 2007, he retired as pastor at St. John the Evangelist.

He was passionate about the liturgy and how it was presented. He was an honorary member of the Knights of Columbus Fourth Degree. Father Courtney also was a history enthusiast, and a gourmet chef who delighted in sharing his culinary skill.

Survivors include brothers and sisters-in-law John and Agnes Courtney of San Mateo, Calif., James and Ann Courtney of Butte and Michael Courtney of Butte; nieces and nephews John Courtney, Valerie Courtney, Marcus Courtney, Cindy Petsche, and Ginger Courtney; and cousins Mary Ann Comstock, Dorothy Scheid and Margaret Scheid. Father Courtney helped care for his mother until her death in 2001.


Published in The Montana Catholic Online, Volume 26, No. 1, January 22, 2010.