Delila Wilhelmina (Salmela) Michaels

Delila, beloved wife, mother and grandmother passed away peacefully on January 15, 2022, in Greybull, Wyoming at the age of 94.

Delila was born October 13, 1927, at Almy, Wyoming in a log house on the family ranch. Her parents, Eino and Hilya Salmela were of Finnish descent and as such Delila was proud to be 100 percent Finn which was later verified by an Ancestry DNA test. She grew up with her older sister Vivian (Preator) and her younger brother and best friend Bud. She loved animals and enjoyed raking and stacking hay on the ranch with their team of horses.

She went to grade school in Almy and later graduated high school from nearby Evanston, Wyoming.

In 1955, she married George Michaels and fondly became known to him as “Lila”. They made their home on the family farm south of Burlington, across the river. It is here their four children, Gordon, Roger, Carol, and Larry were born and raised.

In 1970, George and Delila became members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In 1972, they were sealed together with their children in the Idaho Falls Temple. Delila served faithfully in Primary, Young Women, and in the church library for many years. In 1998, they moved into their new home in Burlington to be closer to their friends.

Delila was preceded in death by George, her husband of 59 years, her parents, her brother and sister, and her oldest son Gordon at 3½ years.

She is survived by Roger (Marianne) Michaels, Carol (Rex) Williams, Larry (Cathy) Michaels, 14 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. Delila loved them all and was proud to be able to name all of them with their birthdays by memory.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, January 22nd from 9:00-10:00 a.m. at the Burlington LDS Church. Funeral Services will begin at 10:00 a.m. Delila will be laid to rest beside her beloved husband George and their darling son Gordon in the Burlington, Wyoming Cemetery following services.

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