Michael Thomas Crane

Michael T. Crane, retired, respected, honored Administrator, then CEO of Medical Center Physicians, and in later years named Saltzer Medical Center, passed peacefully on September 30, 2023, one month short of his 90th birthday surrounded by his devoted family and the prayers and love of friends.

Mike was born to Lewis Bennett and Agnes Crane on October 30, 1933, in Portland, Oregon, the 4th of five children. He was preceded in death by his parents and all four of his siblings despite serious health challenges at a young age. That longevity is of and in itself a tribute to his love of life, his love of family, and, perhaps even, the stubbornness derived from his Irish heritage.

A faithful Catholic throughout his life, Mike attended St. Agatha’s Grade School in Portland, Oregon and then graduated from West Linn High School. He began college at Portland State University and transferred to the University of Oregon where he completed his studies and received his Bachelor's Degree in Business.

Mike began his hands-on managerial training at W.T. Grant Company in Spokane, Washington in 1959. It was in Spokane that he met the love of his life, Dolores Irene Bermensolo, who was attending Nursing School. They were married at St Pauls Catholic Church in Nampa Idaho, on May 30th 1959. The were happily married for 64 years. Mike enthusiastically embraced Irene’s Basque heritage.

Mike and Irene moved around in their early years of marriage, returning to Nampa when he took the position at Medical Center Physicians to manage the clinic and their practices. Not only did he build the clinic with his commitment to the true, compassionate and expert practice of medicine, he loved everything about requiting new doctors and he seemed to possess a radar for hiring the “right people” with the dedication and philosophy that he felt the medical field required and that the Nampa community—his community—deserved. He made the clinic his own whether it was helping with details of the physical plant, the managing of staff, down to making sure the lawn was properly trimmed and mowed. By the time he retired in 1998, the doctors had grown from 7 in number, to 39, becoming a true multi-specialty group.

A tribute to his contribution to the community, is that when he retired, then-Mayor Maxine Horne officially declared it “Mike Crane Day,” a fitting tribute to a man who, though small in stature cast a giant shadow; a man who had “the right stuff”: the courage to stand his ground, to act with integrity and with a profound sense of honor not only in his own life but also, in the stewardship of the clinic.

In retirement, Mike and Irene loved traveling, going to destinations in the US, Canada and Europe, not the least of which were memorable trips to the Basque country with Irene’s parents as guides. As mentioned previously about his serious health challenges as a child, Mike contracted polio at age 11—pre-vaccine. He survived to live the full life described but eventually succumbed to post-polio syndrome.

After developing complications from a viral infection he was hospitalized for 3 days prior to his death.

Mike is survived by Irene, his wife of 64 years, his children and their families: son Patrick of Nampa, his wife Delcy, grandchildren Andrew and his children Holten and Kylee; his granddaughter, Jessica, her husband Tanner and their 3 daughters, Emerson, Audrey and Lydia; his daughter Lisa Touw of Seattle, her husband, Courtney, their four children Griffin, Cameron, Nolan and Marlise.

The Crane family would like to recognize the compassionate and professional care rendered by Dr. Michael Dee and Dr. Darrell Kammer. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the St. Paul’s School Building fund. St. Paul’s Parish and School were a home to Irene and Mike, to their children and grandchildren and even great grandchildren.

Funeral arrangements will be managed by Yraguen Chapel/Nampa Funeral Home. The Vigil Rosary Service will be Sunday, October 8 at 4:00 pm at the Nampa Funeral Home, Mass of Christian Burial will be held Monday, October 9, at St. Pauls Catholic Church at 11::00 am. An online guest book is available at www.nampafuneralhome.com

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