Michael Vaughn Wilson

Michael ('Mike') Vaughn Wilson was born on March 1, 1965 in Lansing, MI to Leroy and Marilyn (Withrow) Wilson. His family moved to Southern California in 1967 where he attended school, eventually earning his GED and enlisting in the United States Marine Corps. Mike served honorably as a Military Police Officer from April 2, 1984 until March 24, 1988 and earned the rank of Lance Corporal. As a proud Marine he earned a Rifle Marksman Badge, Pistol Sharpshooter Badge, Good Conduct Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon and received a letter of appreciation. He served in Japan, South Korea (where he loved eating Kimchi), and completed winter training in Norway. Mike married Cynthia Delay in 1996 and they raised two children-Amber and Tyler-as well as more animals than anyone could reasonably count. While attending a family reunion near Lewistown they fell in love with the state of Montana and made the decision to move there, settling in Billings. Michael was so happy to live with his family in Big Sky Country and especially enjoyed fishing with his children at Riverfront Park. He loved to tease his children when they were defiant, joking he was "Not the Mama!" He was so proud to be a Father and truly lived by the ethos that family is what you make it and nothing is more important. A few years after Mike and Cynthia divorced Mike met Barb at a birthday party in Billings. She could not take a subtle hint and was the last person to know he was interested in her. She made the move to Billings soon after for work and it was just a bonus that Mike lived there. Although they both insisted they were never getting married again their wedding took place up on the Rims on December 3, 2016. They were the light of each other's lives and always joked about the phrase “to infinity and beyond”-he would insist that there can be no beyond. Barb concluded their wedding vows with this phrase and he finally agreed with her, affirming their love is indeed beyond infinity. Mike and Barb were happiest when they were together, at home or on one of their many adventures. Outside of the countless places he visited in the paperback books he read Mike wasn’t much into traveling. Barb took him out of that mindset. They celebrated his 50th birthday in Vegas and never looked back. They traveled to Cape Cod and Boston where Mike got the chance to see his beloved Red Sox play in Fenway stadium. He was making plans to go back as soon as possible. They spent Christmas week in Florida in 2019 and he was planning on taking Barb to San Diego. Mike was preceded in death by his parents, Leroy and Marilyn (Withrow) Wilson and his sister Paula Merfeld. He is survived by his loving wife Barbara Erickson, daughter Amber Gladney (and her partner Ian Marquez), son William “Tyler” Wilson, his former spouse Cynthia Wilson (Delay) and Cynthia’s mother Shirley Britton, affectionately known as "Granny". He is also survived by Barb’s children and his special “Grands” who he loved so much-Erica and Cort Buchholz and their children Lincoln and Immy, and Greg and Amy Loder and their children Barrett, Hayes, Pierce and Margot. Mike was the 'baby and pet whisperer' and whenever his Grands would see him they would exclaim how excited they were to see "their MIKE!” (and would be incredibly disappointed if he wasn't around for their calls or visits). He is also survived by his brother William Wilson (and wife Bea Wilson), brother Lee Wilson, sister Debbie Batman (and husband Don Batman), twin sister Marcia Wilson, and numerous nieces and nephews. Mike lived simply and loved stubbornly, bringing laughter and warmth to any conversation. His Celebration of Life will tentatively take place Spring 2021 in Eastern Montana. In the meantime we know he's smiling down on us with a lukewarm Holiday coffee in one hand and a ragged paperback in the other, waiting to tell us a new joke he's been working on. Until we see you again, we love you to infinity and beyond.