Tami Marie Ursich

It is with profound sadness that we announce the sudden passing of Tami Marie Ursich, age 64, on July 20, 2026.

Tami was born on May 9, 1962, at St. John’s Hospital in Helena, Montana, to Frank Ursich and Barbara Cook alongside her five siblings. She was raised in Helena, where she attended Hawthorne Elementary School, Central School, Helena Junior High, and graduated from Helena High School with the Class of 1980.

A lifelong learner, Tami attended Carroll College and Montana Tech before earning her bachelor’s degree in Health and Physical Education from Montana State University in 1987. She returned to Helena to begin her career teaching at Mountain View School before eventually settling in Missoula.

After moving to Missoula, Tami worked as a waitress at Northern Pacific Brewing Company, where she met the love of her life, Jürgen Knöller. Together they helped build the first brewery and pub in the State of Montana. They shared seven years of marriage and many unforgettable memories.

Driven by determination, vision, and an incredible work ethic, Tami went on to establish The Iron Horse Bar & Grill, creating what would become one of Missoula’s most beloved gathering places. For 35 years, she built and operated a thriving business through hard work, perseverance, and an unwavering commitment to her community. To many, she wasn’t simply Tami—she was proudly known as “Iron Horse Tami.” She had a remarkable gift for making everyone feel welcome, and whether you walked through her doors for the first time or the thousandth, you were treated like family.

Tami’s impact on Montana extended far beyond her business. Alongside Jürgen, she helped establish the first Oktoberfest celebration in Montana, creating a tradition that continues to bring people together. She was also a devoted supporter of Grizzly athletics, rarely missing a football season and hosting the legendary Iron Horse tailgate with “The Rhino,” where friends gathered over the famous Iron Horse chili—a local favorite that continues to be served today.

Athletic and adventurous from an early age, Tami excelled in track and cheerleading and loved skiing, traveling, and spending time at her cherished lake house. She never missed an opportunity to cheer on her beloved Denver Broncos or celebrate with friends over great music, laughter, and good food. More than anything, she loved people. She welcomed individuals from every walk of life with open arms, a generous spirit, and a sincere interest in their stories.

Family meant everything to Tami. Over the years, all five of her siblings worked alongside her at The Iron Horse, creating not only a successful family business but countless memories together. Her loyalty to those she loved never wavered.

Tami will be remembered as fiercely determined, endlessly generous, deeply loyal, larger than life, and always the life of the party. She possessed a heart of gold and had a unique ability to make every person she encountered feel seen, valued, and appreciated. Her legacy is not only found in the business she built but in the friendships she fostered, the traditions she created, and the countless lives she touched.

Tami was preceded in death by her father, Frank (Darlene) Ursich; her grandparents, Frank and Marie Ursich and Homer and Mary Phillips.

She is lovingly survived by her mother, Barbara (George) Cook; her uncle, Larry (Maureen) Ursich; her sisters, Teri (Jim) Reyes, Leslie (Rob) Laird, and Susan Ursich (Tony Martian), her brothers, Kurt (Shaliena) Ursich and Mike Ursich; her nieces and nephews, Max Reyes, Josie Torres, Sophie Ursich, James Ursich, and Delaney Laird; her great-nephews, Cooper Reyes and Frankie Fowler; and countless extended family members, dear friends, loyal employees, and patrons who became family over the years.

A Celebration of Life will be held at The Iron Horse Bar & Grill on Sunday, August 8, from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. The celebration is open to the public, as all are welcome to honor the remarkable woman who meant so much to so many. Beginning at 5:00 p.m., the gathering will continue as a private celebration for close family and friends.

Tami believed life was meant to be celebrated, friendships were meant to be cherished, and everyone deserved a seat at the table. To many, The Iron Horse wasn’t just a bar and grill—it was home, and Tami was the reason why. She welcomed everyone with open arms, never met a stranger, and had an incredible gift for making people feel like family.

She lived with gratitude, resilience, and a joy for life that was contagious. One of her favorite sayings was, “I’ve never had a bad day.” It wasn’t because life had always been easy. It was because Tami chose to focus on the good, embrace every moment, and make the most of every day she was given. That outlook became her gift to everyone fortunate enough to know her.

Though her absence leaves an immeasurable void, her spirit lives on in every shared meal, every Griz tailgate, every Oktoberfest celebration, every bowl of Iron Horse chili, every Broncos game, and every story told around a table filled with laughter. Her legacy is found not only in the business she built, but in the community she created and the countless lives she touched.

In true Tami fashion, the doors of The Iron Horse remain open. She would have wanted the laughter to continue, the music to play, the glasses to be raised, and the stories to be shared. She would have reminded us that life is precious, friends are family, and every day is worth celebrating.

So, as we remember Iron Horse Tami, perhaps the greatest way to honor her is to live as she did—with generosity, loyalty, courage, and an open heart.

And if she could leave us with one final message, we know exactly what it would be:

“I’ve never had a bad day.”

Condolences may be left for the family at www.dalyleachchapel.com.