CORVALLIS, MT – Neil M. Honkala, 56, of Corvallis passed away Sunday, May 15, 2022. He was born August 19, 1965 in Ishpeming, MI, the son of Frank and Shirley Honkala.

Neil graduated from Westwood High in 1983. After high school, he moved to New Hampshire and worked concrete with his brothers. Neil then moved to Colorado and continued in the construction trade before moving to Florida. Neil went to the Police Academy in Florida in 1988 which began his long career in Law Enforcement which spanned over 30 years in Florida and Montana. Neil also had a love of skydiving which led him to being a skydiving instructor for 17 years while in Florida and also a firearms instructor for many years. While skydive instructing he met Stacy Haywood and they married on Aug. 21, 2004. They moved to Montana in January of 2016. Neil continued with firearm instructing in Montana with the Bitterroot Blasters and he also served as the Armorer and a committed officer for the Hamilton Police Department.

Neil will be remembered as a very hard working man who loved his time in Law Enforcement, especially S.W.A.T. He enjoyed shooting, especially competitive shooting, hunting, woodworking, forging knives, four wheeling and dirt biking. His greatest love was spending time with his family.

Neil was preceded in death by his father, Frank Honkala; and 2 brothers, Dean and Scott. He is survived by his wife, Stacy, of Corvallis; his 4 children, Sophia, Jacob, Erica and Kayla all of Corvallis; his mother, Shirley Honkala of Ishpeming; 3 brothers, Calvin (Mary) Honkala of Ishpeming, Keith (Sonja) Honkala of Lantana, FL, Chris Honkala of Ishpeming; his sister, Ann (Tim) Lequia of Clarksburg Loc.; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, May 21, 2022 at 11:00 am at the Daly-Leach Chapel in Corvallis, MT with burial to follow in the Corvallis Cemetery. Condolences may be left for the family at bjorkandzhulkie.com