Michael Lee Covault

Michael Lee Covault passed away October 8, 2026 from complications due to Parkinson’s Disease. He was born February 13, 1951 in Des Moines, Iowa, the first of three children born to Mary Lee (Burge) Covault and Richard Lee Covault.

Mike graduated from Iowa State University with a BS in Electrical Engineering and an MS in Physics. He worked for twenty years at Hewlett Packard in California and Boise, Idaho in computer disc drive research, development, and manufacturing. He went on to work at Seagate Technology in Minnesota, retiring in 2011 as Senior Vice President.

Mike enjoyed backpacking, boating, cross-country skiing, woodworking, photography, fishing, golfing, cooking, and travelling. He was passionate about mentoring others wanting to start businesses. He also mentored youth, which included coaching soccer, t-ball, and baseball. He volunteered as a Cub Scout and Boy Scout troop leader. Mike was generous with his time and resources to those in his life.

While at ISU, he married Jeanne Weber with whom he had two children, Benjamin James Covault (deceased) and Jonathan Covault. He later married Carol Francia until her death in January 2006 from cancer. In December 2007, he married Mary (Cole) Wells and became stepfather to her three children, Sarah, Evan, and Emily.

Mike was preceded in death by his parents, son Benjamin, stepbrother Don Perkins Jr., and stepfather Don Perkins. He is survived by his wife Mary, son Jonathan, stepchildren Sarah Davis (Chadwick), Richard Evan Wells (Ruby), and Emily Wells (Cedric Cook), grandchildren Oliver, Gwendolyn, Owen, and Nina, brother Jonathan M. Covault (Mike), sister Linda Wood (Ed), and stepsister Marion Logue and numerous nieces and nephews.

Services will be held Friday, October 16, at noon at Eagle Christian Church in Eagle Idaho. Interment will be at Dry Creek Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations are requested for the Women’s and Children’s Alliance, and the Idaho Food Bank.