Helen Dolores Michael, a businesswoman and popular figure in Hesperia charitable and social circles for four decades, has died. She was 85. Helen was a proud member of the “Red Hat Ladies” social club for 30 years.
The group sponsors monthly dinners or excursions to casinos or other points of interest in Southern California. She also was a longtime volunteer at The Leisure League Thrift Store in Hesperia and made many friends as a supporter of the TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) Club in the city. Helen passed away Monday (March 18) at St. Mary’s Hospital in Apple Valley.
Failing health had required months of hospitalization. “My Mom had been in the hospital for so long she really missed spending time with all of her friends,” son Joe Jr. said. Helen enjoyed travelling and was always bringing home trinkets like unicorns, dolls or even baseballs for the collections of her family and many friends.
Helen, along with her late husband, Joseph Michael Sr., operated a thriving vending machine business in the High Desert for 21 years, but sold “Michael’s Vending” a few years after Joe Sr.’s passing in 1987. In those days, the vending business dealt largely in coins more so than dollars. “My Mom and Dad were very proud of the fact our business supplied all the quarters the Bank of America ever needed back then,” Joe Jr. quipped.
“B of A never needed to send out for quarters! ” Born in 1933 in Elizabeth, N.J., Helen was the only child of Louis and Minnie Eilers, German immigrants who came to the U.S. in the 1920s. The small family came west for its warmer climate in the 1940s due to Minnie’s health.
“Mom (Helen) said they planned to move to Phoenix, but August was so hot they kept going and wound up in Riverside,” Joe Jr. said. Helen was a proud alum of the Riverside Poly High School Class of 1951. Growing up, Helen’s Dad always had a menagerie of critters around the family property.
Instilled with a lifelong love of animals, Helen raised and loved many pets all her life. Helen was working as a dental assistant in the 1950s when she agreed to accompany her best girlfriend to a dance at the March Air Force Base NCO Club. Her pal hoped to meet a man.
Helen often recalled with chuckle that while her friend struck out that night, it was Helen who met airman Joseph Michael Sr. The smitten airman eventually proposed and the couple married Sept. 24, 1958. The Michaels and two young sons globe-trotted to postings including Germany and Spain for a decade before the Master Sergeant mustered out at George AFB in Victorville in 1967.
They decided to stay in the High Desert. Helen is survived by son William “Billy” Michael of Hesperia as well as son and daughter-in-law Joe Jr. and Linda Michael of Hesperia. Helen and Joe Sr. were preceded in death by infant middle daughter Mary who lived only 22 days.
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