Michael J. Belshan

Michael J. Belshan, 73, rural Lake Mills, passed away Wednesday, April 16, 2025 surrounded by his loving family. Visitation will be held today (Wednesday), April 23, from 5-7p.m. at Schott Funeral Homes Mittelstadt Chapel, Lake Mills. A prayer service will follow, beginning at 7 p.m. with Mr. Kermit Singelstad officiating. All friends and relatives are welcome. Following the visitation and service, Mike’s wishes were to be cremated, and a private burial will take place at a later date. Schott Funeral Homes is honored to care for Mike and his family.
Michael Jon Belshan was born Oct. 6, 1951 in Albert Lea, Minn. to parents Milo and Betty (Johnson) Belshan. He attended and graduated from Glenville High School in 1969. Mike went on to attend Austin Community College in Austin, Minn. He worked a brief time at Lou Rich in Hayward, Minn., as a tool and die machinist, and spent the remainder of his career at Midway Tool and Die in Lake Mills.
On Feb. 22, 1980, Mike was married to Kimberley Schultz at Oakland Lutheran Church, rural Albert Lea, Minn. The couple made their home in the country north of Lake Mills, and they were blessed with two children: Andrea and Jason.
Mike was a talented craftsman who liked to tinker. He could engineer almost anything in his mind and make it come to fruition in his shop. He enjoyed collecting and fixing up classic cars-the first one being a 1930 Model A, which he completed when he was only 15 years old. The school bus he converted into an RV has all the conveniences of their home with no detail overlooked.
Mike was an avid gun collector with items from WWII in his extensive collection. He loved to go deer hunting, a hobby that began as a young boy with his father, Milo. Some of his favorite hunting trips were to Montana, where he would go Elk hunting and ride horses. Mike also liked to fish (never revealing his honey hole), but his favorite spot was always at home with the love of his life, Kimberley, where he could be found sitting on the porch watching thunderstorms roll in.
Kim and Mike traveled extensively. Vacations ranged from family trips to the Black Hills and Mackinaw Island, to places like Hawaii and Germany. They enjoyed going on apple trips in the fall to take in the changing leaves, going antiquing together, and especially liked to go to drag races. Racing was a huge part of Mike’s life. He would watch racing on TV, he attended countless races—Earlville being a favorite race track, and could even be found helping in the pit crew for his friends. Mike especially loved family gatherings, holidays and get togethers, even if it was just a few people sitting around the fire. He was also known to drink a Miller Lite or 12 every now and then.
Mike fought a long and strong battle with Parkinson’s disease with Kim by his side every step of the way. He will be greatly missed by his family and his dear friends.
Survivors include his wife Kim, rural Lake Mills; daughter, Andrea (Belshan) Fjelstad (special friend Tony), Lake Mills; son, Jason (Amanda) Belshan, Austin, Minn.; two granddaughters: Olivia Walton (Jesse Beck), Lake Mills; and Jenna Belshan, Austin, Minn.; a great-grandson who will make his appearance in September, Trenton Michael Belshan-Beck; his sister, Marilyn Carrigan, Grenada, Minn.; brother, Daniel (Bonnie) Belshan, Glenville, Minn.; special niece Trisha; father- and mother-in-law, Bob and Pat Fjelbroten, Albert Lea, Minn.; brothers- and sisters-in-law: Joanie (Jerry) Weitzel, Albert Lea, Minn.; Ernie (Carol) Schultz, Alden, Minn.; Tammy Schneider (Fred Davis), Albert Lea, Minn.; Sherie (Michael) Kimbrough, Joplin, Mo.; John Fjelbroten,Albert Lea, Minn.; and Rob (Khris) Fjelbroten, Albert Lea, Minn.; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Milo and Betty Belshan; a son-in-law, Ryan Fjelstad; brother-in-law, Craig Carrigan; and a nephew, Kevin Fjelbroten.