RAF FEATURED SUPPORTER: MIKE KUEFLER

At age 21, Mike Kuefler started tinkering with lightning protection, and his interest developed into a satisfying 40-year career based in St. Ignatius, Montana. From the Pacific Northwest to Florida, Kuefler Lightning Protection designs and installs grounding systems to protect against lightning strikes in hospitals, schools, FAA ATC towers, military munitions and missile magazines, USFS fire lookout towers, homes, agricultural, and commercial facilities.


And one could say that opportunity struck like lightning in 2003 when Mike and his wife Julie were delivering materials near West Glacier, Montana. They heard about an airfield a few miles up Ryan Road, so they drove in and were welcomed in warm Montana style by Ben and Butchie Ryan, igniting a friendship. Julie began bringing homemade foods whenever they were in the area, and Veteran Army pilot Ben shared WWII flying stories with Mike.

The future of the Ryans’ property came up, and Ben told Mike he’d like to donate the airfield for recreational aviation. Inspired by the Ryans' generosity, Mike thought the Montana Pilots Association could take it on, but then-president Chuck Manning suggested a new organization called the RAF. Mike contacted co-founders John McKenna and Jerry Cain. The ink was barely dry on the nonprofit paperwork when they met Ryans at Ryan Field. “Daisies were in bloom all over the property. It was truly a beautiful spot with a nice airfield right in the middle,” Mike reflects. Ben was very interested in the RAF mission, and a land transfer was planned. 


The relationship that Mike and Julie created turned into the permanent preservation of Ryan Field by the RAF and its volunteers. “I’d hate to see what would have happened if it weren’t for the RAF,” Mike said. “There's a lot of pressure to close airfields, and that’s why the RAF is such a great organization. And look how it’s grown, and helped save other airstrips all over the country,” he added.

Mike’s aviation interest started with CFI Wayne Baer in St. Ignatius, Montana. They flew Wayne’s C172 for an hour, and after landing, Mike asked how soon he could begin lessons. “You just did,” Baer said. Mike now flies a C182 with the Sportsman STOL and has accumulated nearly 3,500 hours for business and pleasure. One memorable trip was his solo journey as far north as the Beaufort Sea in Arctic Alaska

Closer to home, Kueflers see the Mission Mountain Range out their window near the home airport they love, the 2003 winner of Montana Aeronautics Airport Of The Year. For over 25 years, Mike and Julie have helped stage the annual St. Ignatius community fly-in, serving as many as 790 breakfasts. He’s quick to credit current Airport Manager Rick Newman for his leadership, and is especially proud of the new pilot pavilion and fire ring that volunteers installed in 2024 with the help of RAF and MPA grants, and a local memorial fund. “We used profits from the fly-in breakfast to seal the roof, and re-paint the pilot lounge and outhouse. All this happened without taxpayer dollars,” Mike says. Pilots love to visit St. Ignatius for underwing camping, the courtesy car, and Mission Country Market, just a hop through the gate in the airport’s east fence. 


“Aviation is one of America’s greatest symbols of freedom, but our greatest symbols of freedom are our Veterans and service men and women around the world,” Mike adds. 

Submitted January 7, 2025.

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