Michael John Jelsing

Michael John Jelsing was born on April 25, 1970 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He died unexpectedly on Sunday, July 26, 2026 at the Heart of America Medical Center in Rugby, North Dakota.

Michael was raised in the home of his parents, Marvin and Gail in Rugby. At a young age, he was eager to begin working, starting with delivering the newspaper around town then working during his high school years at Bicklers Jack & Jill. He graduated from Rugby High School, the class of 1988. He continued his education at Bismarck State College. After completing his education, he began his cooking career and cooked at different places throughout the state, including places closer to home like The Cove in Devils Lake and the Hub in Rugby. Mike decided to go to Williston and work in the oil field as a seismographer for many years. That job took him to Wyoming, Colorado, Texas, California, Utah and Alaska. He would then spend his winters in Alaska working on the North Slope and summers in the lower 48.

With his sense of adventure and love to travel, he wanted to move to Alaska, so Mike, his dog Buster and his dad packed up and road tripped to move him to Alaska. He first settled in Wasilla then Anchorage, both places he was a dairy distributor for grocery stores, schools and prisons. While in Alaska, he rescued a wild kitten, Savannah, who took to him without hesitation. After his mother passed in 2001 then his father in 2006, him, Savannah and Buster moved home to Rugby. He shuttled people, drove truck hauling a variety of things, most recently, he worked for Concrete Mobile. He was never afraid to work, worked hard throughout his life at whatever he did and took pride in it all.

Mike enjoyed and experienced many things throughout his life. Growing up, his uncles took him hunting and fishing and they enjoyed watching sporting events, all of which stuck with Mike throughout his life. He was a lifelong Denver Broncos fan, NDSU Bison football fan as well as a UND hockey fan. He loved watching sports and was always competitive. While in Alaska, he enjoyed salmon and halibut fishing between the rivers and deep-sea fishing as well as crabbing. He would ship some of the seafood home and treat the family to a feast! He was funny, goofy and a jokester and being a typical older brother, he would light-heartedly pick on his sister, Ang. He brought a laugh and smile wherever he was and was a gentle, kind man who would drop anything to help anyone. He loved both ice and summer fishing, camping and going to the lake. During his free time, he loved to read, play a competitive game of Monopoly with Zach or Canasta with Ang. When his nephew was younger, he loved to pick him up for a long weekend or a week, pitch a tent and enjoy the great outdoors. He loved his family, would spoil them and being a good listener, he would gift them with thoughtful gifts that often surprised them. His family meant everything to him and he was so proud of them. Whether you knew him as Mike, Uncle Mike, Doc J, Uncle Buck or Gus, he was a kind, gentle man, who was always willing to help anyone whenever he could…that will be his legacy.

Mike is survived by his kitty, Mizz; his sister, Angela (Frederick) Baillie of Rugby; nephew, Zachary (Tessa) Baillie of Rugby; uncles, Rod (Mary Anne) Ekren of Bismarck, Keith (Cynthia) Ekren of Vero Beach, Florida; aunt, Ann Fliflet of Valley City; paternal father, Richard (Deborah) Barrett of Minneapolis; uncles, William (Carol) Barrett, Ronald (Pamela) Barrett and Terry Barrett, all of Minneapolis; aunt, Diane Sylvester of Minneapolis; many cousins; other relatives and friends.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Marvin and Gail Jelsing; an uncle Junior Fliflet and his cats, Savannah and Murphy and his dog Buster.

Memorial services were held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, August 7, 2026 at First Lutheran Church in Rugby with the burial at the Persilla Watts Cemetery in Rugby.

Pastor Sharon Baker, clergy.

Organist: Pam Anderson

Honorary Bearers: Zach Baillie, Dennis Krick, Bruce Odden, Glen Denney, James “JJ” Johnson and Luke McCann.

Arrangements with the Anderson Funeral Home of Rugby. Online registry: www.funeralsbyanderson.com.

Published by The Pierce County Tribune, August 8, 2026.