Helen J. Michelotti

On September 20, 2023, we lost a very special person when our mother and Nana, Helen J. Michelotti, passed away. Helen was born to George (Jura) and Martha Selakovich on August 21, 1928, in Rock Springs, Wyoming, joining her older brother, Walt, with whom she enjoyed a close and loving relationship.

In her younger years, the family moved to Great Falls, Montana, where her parents operated a restaurant and bar business. Upon graduation from high school, she continued her education at Loretto Heights College in Denver and Colorado State. As it turned out, there was a young man by the name of Bob Michelotti, whose father also ran a restaurant and bar business. Bob had worked closely with his father and met Helen’s parents. Helen’s mom admired Bob and decided to play matchmaker and introduced the two of them. Soon Helen moved home to finish college and be closer to Bob.

Bob and Helen were married on August 10, 1949, and began their lifetime commitment to faith and family. After their son, Jock, was born, they moved to the Los Angeles area so Bob could study mortuary science. Upon completion of Bob’s studies, they moved to Billings and soon after their son, John, was born.

Providing their sons with an opportunity for a quality education was a priority for Helen and Bob. To do so, they expanded their partnership to the motel business. Operating two businesses and tending to the family needs required hard work and commitment from both of them. The motel business fit Helen’s outgoing personality, as she enjoyed the interactions with their customers and the friendships developed over the years.

As their sons were completing their educations, Bob was diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease. They decided to move on from the motel business and Helen’s focus and commitment turned to Bob’s care. Helen was constantly by Bob’s side through a failed kidney transplant, many surgeries, and 17 years of dialysis. Because Montana’s winters were difficult for Bob, they began spending the colder months in Palm Desert, California. Helen would drive them down each fall and back in the spring. They were married for 49 years until Bob’s death in 1998. Helen missed Bob dearly for the rest of her life and never failed to share her treasured memories of him and their life together.

After Bob’s death, Helen’s faith and strength were remarkable and carried her for the next 25 years of her life. Prayer was central to her life. She particularly drew upon her family and friends to enjoy the life God had given her. Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren brought her much joy.

From a young age and under the influence of her dad and Walt, she developed a lifelong passion for sports. Being able to enjoy watching baseball, golf, tennis and football provided much pleasure to her, especially in her later years. She was very adept at working the remote control to watch her favorites: Notre Dame (Go Irish!), the Dodgers, Yankees (likely to her dad’s displeasure), Tiger and Rafa.

Helen was preceded in death by her parents, Bob, John and Walt. She is survived by Jock and his wife, Connie (she felt Connie was more of a daughter than a daughter-in-law); her grandchildren, Ceci Michelotti, Alida Mooreston (Will), Nicole Michelotti- Lasich (Kirt), Christina Michelotti, Marissa McGinnis (Brendan), Seve Michelotti (Chandler) and Ali Michelotti; her great-grandchildren, Ashton Carter, Hal Mooreston, Clementine Mooreston, Liam Crandall, Emerson (Emmie) Lasich, Mason Lasich, Kayden McGinnis and Maddox McGinnis; and her nephews and nieces from Walt’s family.

We will celebrate Helen’s life with a funeral mass on her mom’s birthday, October 25th, at 10 a.m., at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, 2055 Woody Drive, Billings, Montana.

As Helen had a fondness for many charities, memorials in her name may be made to the charity of your choice.