Michelle Rae Robinson

Michelle Rae Robinson, 51, passed away on October 19, 2023.

This was not supposed to happen this soon, but apparently, I have passed away. I fought against it as hard as I could, I even begged and bartered for a longer life. Once again, I didn’t get things my way.

Since we are talking about my life…on January 20, 1972, I was born in Caldwell, Idaho. It took my parents, D. Ross and Karen Minson (Chubbuck, ID) and my older brother a couple of weeks to find me. It was February 12, 1972, when I was adopted and officially became Michelle Rae Minson.

Just two years later when another baby was born, I became known as the middle sister of the infamous M&Ms - Mark, Michelle, and Michael Minson. Whitaker Road was changed forever. My brothers went on to marry wonderful women. Mark and Keri gave me 3 nephews and 1 niece. Michael and Corey gave me 2 nieces.

As a child I loved camping, Bear Lake, hiking, river rafting, and riding my bike as much as my parents would let me. As I grew, I also learned to love volleyball and softball. Music has also always been a huge part of my life. At the age of 5, I started piano lessons, and when I got into middle school, I started the clarinet. In high school, I also added drums and bagpipes. If there was ever a water fight anywhere near me, I was involved. Most of the time, I was the one that started it! As an adult, I loved any time with my family, and my very most favorite outdoor activity is fishing.

I have been called a lot of nicknames throughout my life, in school I was Bubbles, in softball I was Stretch, at work I was Rah Rah or Mushu, but my favorite one came from the Portneuf Muzzleloaders when they gave me my Mountain Man name…Survives with Smiles.

I proudly worked the majority of my career in Emergency Services. In the early 90's, I was a firefighter for Chubbuck Fire Department. I was also one of the first female firefighters there. I served for 12 years with the Pocatello Police Department, mostly as a 911 Operator and Records Specialist. Then I worked 3 years at ISU Public Safety where I grew to love Emergency Management. I spent 5 years issuing building permits for Teton County Wyoming. However, my current job is the one I am most sad to leave. It is Executive Assistant for Snake River Sporting Club. My office is a huge log structure with a big stone fireplace set along the Snake River. It is a dream location for an outdoor lover like me. My co-workers have been so supportive and caring during my unplanned demise. Most of them speak the same level of sarcasm as I do so that also helped keep things fun and down to earth.

I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I happily said yes to every calling. I served for many years in the Young Women’s program. It was during my call as a Young Women President, while I was preparing to attend my 20th girls camp, that I received my first two cancer diagnoses. Through a miracle experimental treatment, I outlived the two years I had initially been given. I went on to serve as a Relief Society President. It was very humbling and rewarding and it was during that service that I was diagnosed again with cancer. Thankfully, it was a slow growing cancer, and I went on to live until October 19, 2023. Thanks to the love and care of the Palisades Ward, my family was well fed, well visited, and well loved.

I grew up in Chubbuck, Idaho and lived there until 2017 when I moved to Victor, Idaho for one year and then bought a home in Swan Valley. I wasn’t sure I would like small town life, but it really was amazing. Why would I move to a small town, you may ask? Well, the next paragraph answers that question.

I was unlucky in love, but in 2016 all of that changed when I met Anthony “Tony” Robinson. He is everything I needed. He said that even if we had 1 minute together it would be worth it. I don’t know if he was really prepared for the adventure being married to me would be, but we have managed to fit a lot into our short time together. I am grateful he took a chance on a lady with cancer, and married me on May 20, 2017. We were later sealed in the Rexburg Temple on August 25, 2018. We both brought our only children into the marriage. Mine was my fabulous daughter, Shea Houston, and his was his son, AJ Robinson. Thanks to these great kids, our family has added a son-in-law, Ty Houston, our two grandcuties, Daizee and Jakzon Houston, and a daughter-in-law, Macie Robinson. I have always maintained that my family is my heaven on earth and the reason I was able to survive 14 years battling the ugly “c” word. When I married Tony, I got the best of everything, including the best in-laws, A. Jon and Linda Robinson and an amazing group of friends we lovingly call our family.

I feel like…I was born; I blinked; and it was over. Fifty-one years was not enough. There are no buildings named after me, and no monuments erected in my honor. However, I DID have the chance to know and love each and every friend as well as all of my family members. How much more blessed can a person be?

So, in the end, remember…do your best. Don’t try to escape your life. Instead, try to experience it. Even in the hard times, it is amazing all of the good you can find if you only choose to look.

If you want to, you can look for me in the evening sunset (because I was never much of a morning person) or with the daisies or flitting with the dragonflies. Of course, that will probably comfort some while antagonizing others, but you know me…it’s what I do.

Please don’t cry because I’m gone; instead, be happy that I was here. Close your eyes and think happy thoughts of me, and you can feel my arms wrapped around you in a hug. Love you forever.

If you would like to come and say a final farewell to me, there will be a viewing at Wilks Funeral Home, 211 Chubbuck Rd, Chubbuck, ID on Friday, October 27, 2023, from 6:00 to 8:00 pm. You can say anything you would like to me, and it will be the only time in your life I won’t sass back. There will also be a viewing prior to the funeral on Saturday, October 28, 2023, from 10:00 to 11:30 am at the Palisades Ward building located at 3109 Swan Valley Hwy, Swan Valley, ID. A Celebration of Life will follow the viewing. Yes, technically, it is a funeral, but I don’t want it to be mopey and sad. The service can be viewed via Zoom.  My burial will be at the Iona Cemetery, 4707 East Iona Road, immediately after the services.

The family would like to thank the staff of the Dr. Wallace Akerly team at Huntsman Cancer Center for their 14 dedicated years of service and love given to Michelle. She always referred to you as her Hero Team and we appreciate you so much. We would also like to thank Brio Home Health and Hospice for the care given in her final months. Mom sincerely loved her nurse, Stephani.

In honor of Michelle, please don’t wear black to her Celebration of Life, instead please wear one of her favorite colors which are blue and yellow.

In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to Michelle’s burial fund and would be greatly appreciated. This can be done through Wilks Funeral Home by calling 208-238-8000 or donating to the “Tribute Fund” located above.

Memories and condolences may be shared on the “Tribute Wall” located above.