Michael Lee Robinson of Sturgis, South Dakota, passed away peacefully on Monday, April 8, 2024 at Fort Meade VA Hospital. He succumbed after a long fight with heart disease.

Mike was born on October 12, 1941 to David Robinson & Dorothy (Thomas) Robinson at Lame Deer, Montana. The family lived near Lame Deer in an area known as Muddy Creek. Later, the family moved to Ardmore, Oklahoma.

After graduation from Ardmore High School in 1960, Mike enlisted in the Navy. He trained to be an Aviation Antisubmarine Warfare Technician (AX), which led to assignment in Vietnam, flying in P2V Neptune aircraft. After 8 years in the Navy, Mike decided he'd had enough of war, and he opted for an Honorable Discharge and a return to civilian life. He served as a policeman in Belle Fourche and Spearfish, South Dakota, while going to night school and earning a degree in Business. After four years of civilian life, he had enough of that, too, so he joined the U.S. Coast Guard in 1973 as an Electronics Technician. He served on numerous ships, both sea-going and small boats, and worked his way up through the ranks to become a Warrant Officer, Electronics. In 1984 he was stationed aboard the USCGC Northland (WMEC-904), where he met his future wife, Lieutenant (junior grade) Wendy Helfrich. He retired from the military in 1990 after 27 years of service.

Mike & Wendy were married on May 20, 1989, in Portsmouth, Virginia. They decided to buy a home in Sturgis in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Wendy moved out there in May 1990, while Mike was still on board a ship (USCGC Legare WMEC-912). After retiring from the military, he joined Wendy in Sturgis. Mike worked in Sturgis as a Drug and Alcohol Counselor, and earned a second bachelor's degree, this one in Substance Abuse Counseling from South Dakota State University.

Back in the 1960s, Mike had come into contact with Jehovah's Witnesses. Mike studied with them off and on through the years. He liked what he heard but for 30 years he put priority on his military career. He started studying the Bible again with Jehovah's Witnesses, and in 1991 he was baptized as one of Jehovah's Witnesses. He spent the rest of his life telling people about Jehovah and living his life according to Bible principles. He never hesitated to help out friends or family when they needed it.

For all his accomplishments in the world, the thing he valued the most was his service to his God, Jehovah. He always told Wendy, "I only want to be remembered for two words: 'Died faithful.'"

Mike is survived by his wife, Wendy; his children, Lynwood Duane Robinson and Jack Crawford Robinson; daughter, Becky Russano; brothers, John Robinson and David Robinson; sister, Glenda (Robinson) Corbin; and cousin and spiritual sister, Sandy Spang.

Mike was cremated at Kinkade Funeral Home in Sturgis, South Dakota. There will be a memorial service on May 4, 2024, 2:00 pm at the Sturgis Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses, 2255 Moose Drive, Sturgis, South Dakota. All are welcome to attend in person or on Zoom. For those on Zoom, you can join starting at 1:30 pm. The Meeting ID is 875 9999 0787, and the passcode is 036385.