Dr. Philip John Milanovich passed away on August 16, 2026, under the loving care of his family after a sudden illness. Born on February 10, 1940, to John and Zorka Milanovich, he was the youngest of three children, adored by his older sisters and parents. He attended Butte High School and excelled at sports, particularly basketball, but also track and field. Tall and a natural athlete, he was a formidable opponent on the court, and in the streets, earning himself a reputation as a stalwart friend and fighter, even into old age.

A member of Sigma Chi, he graduated from Montana State with a Bachelor of Science and went on to receive a Doctor of Dental Surgery from Loyola University School of Dentistry. His educational pursuits were interrupted by the Vietnam War, where he served with honor as a Captain in the Army. Returning to the States and Loyola, he pursued a Master of Science in Orthodontics, which became his life-long career. He had practices throughout Montana in Butte, Helena, Anaconda, and Dillon, as well as satellite offices in Phoenix and Yuma, Arizona. He was one of the founders of Apple Orthodontics, a nationally traded company, and at one point lead Dental in Montana, an insurance organization still active today. He constantly fought for better care of patients. He had many business ventures, including being one of the founders of First Interstate Bank of Butte, and his intellectual pursuits never stopped. A self-described Solutionist, Dr. Milanovich holds a truly remarkable 37 patents in such diverse areas as ocean plastic remediation, rocketry launch systems, oil well safety, and medicine. He continued to solve engineering and environmental problems well outside his field of study for more than half a century after earning his graduate degree and was still working on his inventions until his death.

A beloved Orthodontist, known for his playful attitude and skillful care, he had a generous heart and empathy for the people he treated. When the mines in Butte closed and so many families were out of work, he refused to charge for treatment or call in debt, writing off so much that he made his accountant cry. When Carroll College had a train accident that destroyed its infrastructure, he donated his labs and office space to their dental program. He would donate regularly to institutions and individuals, tipped extravagantly, and was always open-handed and generous with anything he had, including his ideas. While most of his charity was private, he was also Chairman of the Cancer Society and active in the Serbian National Federation, SNF Lodge 36, Crnogorsko Literarno Drustvo in Butte.

Although he worked tirelessly from his early youth, he also had a deeply embedded spirit of adventure and exploration. He held a particular love of the outdoors. From childhood, he would climb, hike, fish, swim, bike, ski and hunt throughout Montana and eventually the world. He would stand on a riverbank to throw a line for trout or aboard a yacht for deep sea fishing, ski Europe or Discovery, and hunt a gopher or big game. One of his biggest trophies and deepest regrets was shooting a grizzly in Alaska, because he was so strongly affected by its majesty. A very knowledgeable gun enthusiast and skilled marksman, his talent in this area was recognized by guides and Olympic shooters, remaining skillful despite age and failing eyesight. He loved cars, fast driving, and generally living his life as large as possible – and he was 6' 2"

A true renaissance man, he loved art and music as well, supporting local indigenous and Western artists, and indulging his children with lessons and concerts. He had a sharp sense of fashion and style, and his natural grace made him a wonderful dancer. Combined with his sense of play, these often had him dancing around his offices and house, singing The Star-Spangled Banner or the latest hit.

He met his end as he met all aspects of life, head-on and with courage. We shall not see his like again.

Dr. Philip Milanovich is survived by his children Jeff, Jennifer, Stana, and John. Jeff and his wife Andrea have two sons, Logan and Gavin, Stana has three children, Aidan, Iris and Rose, and John and his wife Anita have son Marko. He spoke with his remaining sister Marie Voyich almost every day. She was extremely important in his life as well as her children Dushan and wife Becky (children Elija and Nastassija) Vuko and wife Kellie (daughters Natalia and Milena) and Jovanka and her husband Gary Kane. He is also survived by his brother-in-law Wally Roberts and his nephew Lauren (Catherine) Roberts (daughter Gillian and son Austin). Additionally, he is survived by extended family including Charlie Burk (daughter Emma and nephew Joshua) as well as Sandra (Pete) Antonioli (daughters Alexandra and Gabrielle), Mitriann Vogel (daughter Mia), Milton Popovich II, Paula Degnan (Pat, daughter Amelia, son Connor), numerous relatives in Montenegro and Serbia, and extended family of the heart in Butte, greater Montana and abroad. He is joyfully reunited with sister Stella Roberts, brother-in-law Dan Voyich and his sister Millie, son-in-law Ljubisa Maksimovic, relative Julie Burk, and many other family and friends who will welcome him with open arms.

A wake will be held in his honor on Friday, August 21, 2026, from 5PM at the Holy Trinity Serbian Orthodox Church Social Hall on 2100 Continental Dr, Butte, Montana 59701. The funeral will be the next day, Saturday, August 22, 2026, at the Holy Trinity at 10AM with subsequent internment at Mountainview Cemetery 3910 Harrison Ave, at 11AM, luncheon to be determined. In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to the Holy Trinity Orthodox Church. Details available on their website.