Obituary of Keith Mickelson

Keith Frame (Mike) Mickelson, 80, died peacefully on November 29, 2008 from complications related to diabetes. He was born on October 3, 1928 in Long Beach, California to Joseph and Virginia Mickelson. After attending Lynwood High School, he served in the First U.S. Marine Corps Division from 1946 to 1949, including a tour of duty in Guam. Mike met the love of his life, Billie Jo Hitchcock at a dance in Long Beach, California in 1947. They were married the following year in Yuma, Arizona and lived in San Diego near Camp Pendleton where Mike was a drill instructor. Later, they lived in Barstow, California, while he was assigned to the Amphibious Tractor Depot. After his military service, Mike owned, managed and worked at service stations in the southern California area until 1955 before moving the family north and settling in Chico. He operated a Shell station at 6th and Broadway, opened the "Nude Shop" (the first unpainted furniture store in Chico) and migrated into the used car business. In 1966, after operating the Bel Aire Motors used car lot, he established Mike's Brake & Wheel Alignment in downtown Chico. In 1981 he moved the business to East 9th Street and opened the 9th Street Tire Company. Mike's Brake & Wheel operated for over 40 years. An avid hunter, camper and fisherman, Mike retired and spent ten summers catching his limit of trout at Howard Prairie Lake in Oregon. Over the years he also restored several classic Cadillac cars. Mike is survived by his wife of 60 years, Billie; brother, Joseph of Sacramento; sister, Virginia Good of Cote de Caza, California; three sons, Steven, Dennis and Michael, all of Chico; eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at Brusie Funeral Home at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 4, 2008. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Butte Humane Society, Enloe Hospice or the American Diabetes Association.