Louise Michael

Louise Erdmann Michael almost made it around the sun 101 times, but her husband couldn’t wait any longer. He came for her on April 14, 2023 and she peacefully followed him with her family right by her side. I’m sure her baby brother was also there and said, “What in the hell took you so long?” Born in Springville, Utah on June 18, 1922 to William and Maude Erdmann. They moved to Bingham City, next to Kennecott Mine where their dad worked, shortly before her baby brother was born. Later they moved to Washington State and then eventually made their way back to the little white house on the corner in Midvale. Louise graduated as a Beetdigger from Jordan High School in 1940. She earned money by cutting hair, working at Auerbach’s, and was an assistant to Dr. Ball in Murray. But what she really loved to do was sing. She and her accompanist spent a summer in New York where she honed her skill while living in a girl’s dorm. She sang in many concerts and theatrical events in the Valley.

She married Edward S. Michael in 1958 and began her life as a Lt. Colonel’s wife. Stationed in the Azores, a baby was literally placed in her arms who she raised to adulthood, not letting those teenage years change her unconditional love. Landing in Fairfield, CA, she made amazing friends who became family. Some people collect dolls or dogs; Mom collected people. She was fiercely loyal and a therapeutic listener. After 50 years (most in the yellow house on the court), she finally moved back to Utah with her family, three dogs, and a cat. Fridays were hair days for the last 43 years of her life. We are convinced Mary knows more about our family than we do, after four decades of making her beautiful. Moving to Utah, Jen continued the Friday tradition for three years, even coming to the house when the snow showed up.

Mom loved the Lord and was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In the last 2 years of her life, she began saying her morning prayers while standing at her bedroom window and thanking God for all the beauty she had in her life. Near the top of the list was ice cream and butterflies, but the real beauty was in her four grandchildren who she loved with all her heart, Sarah, Hannah, Josh, and Sky. Holding down the earthly fort are her two bonus children, Nancy (Tim) Ayres, Gary (Vivian) Michael, and the one that just magically appeared, Wendy (LeRoy) Purvis. There are four Purvi grandchildren, one son-in-law, and a daughter-in-law in the queue. She also has three bonus grandchildren (Jim, Mendy, and Alexis) and three bonus great-grandchildren.

Funeral Services will be held on Tuesday, April 25, 2023 at Jenkins-Soffe Funeral Home, 1007 W. South Jordan Parkway, South Jordan, UT. Visitation from 10:00-10:45 am. Services will begin at 11am. Graveside Service at the Evergreen Cemetery, 1997 S 400 E St., Springville, UT, immediately following the funeral.