William "Bill" Michalson

1951 - 2025

Born to Rosaline Lofing on September 13, 1951 at Shodair Hospital in Helena, William 'Bill' John Michalson was adopted by Vernon 'Mike' and Lois Michalson on December 31, 1951.

Bill grew up and attended school in Helena, graduating from Helena High School in 1969. He had a deep affection for baseball, which he played during his growing-up years, and an abiding sense of loyalty to the Pittsburgh Pirates. Upon his graduation from Helena High School, Bill enrolled and attended college at Montana State University where he studied prior to going to work for the Montana Highway Department in 1971.

While working for the Highway Department in Big Timber, Bill met Debbie Barber and they were married in Big Timber on July 15, 1972. A year later, they were blessed with the birth of their son, Thad, and shortly thereafter moved to Helena. In the winter of 1974, Bill enrolled at Carroll College and graduated with a degree in Business Economics in 1978.

During the time he attended Carroll College, Debbie and Bill were also residential house parents at the Deaconess Home and Bill served as the Student Assistant at the Carroll College Physical Education Center. While going to school and working two jobs, they welcomed their second child, Sara, in April, 1976.

Upon graduation from Carroll College, Bill accepted a position with the City of Helena in the summer of 1978 and eventually became the director of the Streets Maintenance Division. After 27 years of service to the City of Helena, Bill retired in 2005.

In addition to his dedication to serving the City of Helena, Bill was also committed to serving his community and the young people of Helena. He coached Little League baseball teams, he filmed horse races at the Lewis and Clark County Fairgrounds Race Track, he was the President of the Helena Lions Swim Team for several years. He hired and befriended a countless number of Helena and Carroll College young men and women who worked summer jobs for the City of Helena Street Maintenance Division.

Bill was a loyal fan of the Grizzlies and the Fighting Saints, and he had great affection for playing cards and fishing, but his first love was for his family...Debbie, their children and their five grandchildren all of whom he could be frequently found babysitting.

With Bill's passing on November 26, 2025, after a lengthy battle with the illness that took his life, he is deeply missed, and will be affectionately remembered by his wife of 53 years, Debbie, his son Thad and Thad's wife, Andi, granddaughters Bryar, McKenna, and Kimber of Helena; his daughter, Sara Wolf, Sara's husband, Shawn, and his grandsons, Treysen and Liam of Big Timber; and his brother Edward, Edward's wife, Theresa, two nephews, and the many nieces and nephews of the Barber Family.

Memorials can be made to Florence Crittenton Home, and Shodair Hospital both of Helena MT.

To leave condolences for the family, please visit www.stenbergfuneralhome.com

Cremation has taken place and a memorial service will be held 11:00 a.m. Saturday January 10, 2026 at the Big Timber Lutheran Church, with a reception following at the American Legion.