10/16/2026
Obituary For Mike L. Ehlerding
Mike Ehlerding passed away July 29, 2026, in Chico at Enloe Hospital of Acute Hypoxic Respiratory Failure and Congestive Heart Failure. He was 79 years old, one month shy of his 80th birthday.
Mike first moved to Trinity County in 1962 at the age of 15 with his parents, C.W. (Bill) and Gladys Ehlerding. Having moved 11 times in his life, Mike said many times, “The best thing my father ever did was bring me to Trinity County,” but especially Weaverville. Mike graduated from high school in 1964. While in high school, he excelled in football and … females, and an occasional b**r. He worked at Trinity Hospital and sometimes would be called out on ambulance runs with the coroner, Howard Lovely. After high school, Mike worked with welders and torch cutters hired to disassemble the Carville floating gold dredge that was eventually shipped to South America. While working for the Forest Service he stayed long enough to acquire a 1965 Oldsmobile 442. Eventually being drafted to the U.S. Army for America’s involvement in Vietnam, he served over two years for Uncle Sam, roughly half of which was in Southeast Asia driving Dusenhaff trucks and motor pool jeeps. If there was incoming, he hunkered down and “held down the fort,” as the old folks say.
Mike came back to Weaverville briefly in 1968 after discharge from the military. He met Jacquelyn Bell in 1969, toward the end of her senior year. Mike and Jackie got married in 1971, one day after his 25th birthday, in Lowden Park, something not commonly done at the time. The new couple would live in San Diego. Mike worked as a furniture warehouse clerk and delivery man for Ken Rennick and another business partner for around five years. A son, Jacob, was born in 1974. Jackie finished her student teaching in 1975, and being tired of life in a large city, the family would move north to Weaverville again. First building construction projects under contract with the Forest Service and BLM, with his father-in-law, Harvey Bell. Mike drove lumber truck for Duan Heryford at Heryford Building Materials. In 1978 Mike got the job that would take him through the rest of his working life, as a lineman for Continental Telephone Company, a job that he was always very proud of and enjoyed it. Mike stayed for 30 years to the day, retiring on Thursday, Aug. 28, 2008.
In 1989 Mike and Jackie would divorce, and Mike would meet someone he always called “A very special woman,” and that person was Aracelia Briggs. Mike and Aracelia enjoyed 31 years as mates, and Mike said his only regret in knowing her was “not having met her sooner than he did.”
Later in life, and as Vietnam-era veterans began to be better received by their service, Mike became proud of his military commitment. He truly enjoyed the construction aspects of his career as a telephone man. There are some truly daredevil stories of a wild and crazy maniac dangling from very high telephone poles and riding chair-car across ridiculous spans of telephone wire, if you talk to the right people. Mike was a man’s man, and at times a charmer of women. He loved classic cars, motorcycles, women and b**r. He was a part-time prankster and at times a mischievous rule breaker. He played poker, had a strong “bluff” and won horseshoe tournaments during community parties. Mike bowled on Thursday night men’s league for 32 years. He counted pins and knew how much the pick-up man at the end of the roster needed to score to win a game. Mike Ehlerding was a driven man in every way, who deftly understood that winning was MUCH better than losing.
Mike was a member in good standing of the local chapter of E. Clampus Vitus, ECV 62 for 50 years, having joined on July 22, 1976. He was a member of L.O.O.M 1850, Lewiston Lodge. He was a very active Clamper and would tell the “newbies” how to behave, and that if they just kept showing up, they might make really good friends. Mike was two-time president of the Weaver City Street Rodders. He once coached Senior League Baseball team with Glenn Brown called the A’s, in the 1980s. He liked to hunt and fish. He stayed active, and vocal. Basically, he liked everything about rural living and was proud to do it here in Trinity County, having always been close to his heart.
Although lonely in later years, having outlived many of his friends and Aracelia Briggs, the love of his life, Mike did not suffer as his last days drew nearer. He knew he was not well but never complained much, except for just not having any energy. He truly didn’t have very much pain until his last eight days on earth. In keeping with tradition, he handled his own impending death much as he did with his best days, with lightness and humility, hope that he would get better, and just making every moment count the best that he could.
Michael Ehlerding was preceded in death by his parents, a nephew Gabriel, his girlfriend Aracelia and many, many Trinity County friends that he made through the years.
Survived by four siblings: sisters Annette, Sandy, Lisa and his only brother Terry. Aracelia’s son Mica, his children, Matt, Gauge, Lane and Roshelle; Aracelia’s daughter Susan Deedon and her husband Russell; their children Ashley and Riley Deedon; and Mike’s son Jacob, and his children Tesla and Rief Ehlerding, and his ex-wife Jacquelyn Bell.
Services will be at 9:30 a.m. Monday, Oct. 26, at the Veterans Cemetery in Igo, Calif. Call Jacob at 530-623-3566 for more information.
