Colin Wing Loon Mah

Colin Wing Loon Mah, 84, of Missoula passed away in the comfort of his home, on Tuesday, February 7, 2023 after a hard-fought battle against colon cancer. 

Colin was born on June 1, 1938 in Shanghai, China.  His was preceded in death by his parents, Jinfei Hom Ma and Wei Fu Ma.  Colin did not talk much about his childhood, but when he was 13 years old, he joined his paternal grandfather in Canada to start working in restaurants to earn money to send back to China to help his family. 

He worked in many restaurants in Calgary, Edmonton, and Red Deer, Alberta, Canada before coming to the United States when he married Fong Ming in Missoula on Jan. 28, 1969.  Fong’s family owned Ming’s Restaurant and he was a cook there until he retired in 1999.  Together they had two daughters, Yolanda and Kimberly that they raised in the home they built together.  Colin worked hard to make a better life for himself and his family.  Taking care of his family,  making sure they had a home, and creating a future were the most important things to him. 

Colin loved betting on the horses at the Western Montana Fair (when they had them) and would sometimes drive to Spokane to bet on the ponies after his shift at Ming’s and then drive back to Missoula in time to work again.  Colin loved watching football (especially the 49er’s and the Griz), baseball,  and hockey.  Colin had an interest in technology, airplanes, cars, and of course sports.  He also thought Chinese cuisine was the best and he excelled at preparing Chinese and American food, our dishes will never compare to his. 

Colin was a good husband, but an even better father.  He only had Mondays off from the restaurant and on those days, he was busy checking on the stock market, mowing the lawn, and taking the girls to their piano lessons.  He was cautious with his money and taught the girls important lifelong values.  He had a great sense of humor but if he thought you were out of line or being dishonest, he would let you know. Colin overcame many obstacles and hardships in his lifetime, and by his example taught us how to be resilient and humble.  He loved the quiet of his backyard, Flathead cherries, road trips to visit family, and he liked to sing.  He would occasionally sing old Chinese songs from his childhood, and once had Yolanda buy him Doris Day and Loretta Lynn cassette tapes for him to listen to in his big white van. 

Survivors include his two daughters, Yolanda Mah (Missoula, and Kimberly Mah Hensley (Tigard, OR); one sister Chui King Lee (Houston); and three granddaughters, Marin, Addison, and Peyton.  Colin will also be missed by his many nieces and nephews and cousins in the US, Canada, and China. 

The family of Colin would like to thank his PCP, J. Michael Caldwell, MD; his Partners in Hospice team, especially,  Julie his nurse, CNA’s Andrea and Rebecca, and social worker Ryan.  The family would also like to thank the many caregivers from Case Management Caregiving, especially Wendy, Henry, Misty, Corina, Roxana, Denise, Bonnie and Tasha.  We could not have fulfilled his last wishes or provided the care he needed without you all.  Thank you!