IRONWOOD, Mich. - Michael L. “Mike” Lehto, 70, of Ironwood, after a valiant and courageous battle against cancer, on Monday, May 4, 2026, went with dignity and at peace, in his home with hospice, surrounded by his family and friends to be with the “Spirit in the Sky.”

Michael was born on July 6, 1955, in Ironwood, the son of Lloyd E. Lehto and Kathryn “Dolly” Lehto (Brunello-Aho). He graduated from Luther L. Wright High School with the class of 1973. He moved to Huntington Beach, California, during the bicentennial year of 1976.

On Sept. 24, 1983, Michael was united in marriage to his loving wife, the former Belinda A. Almaraz, in Newport Beach, California. They were blessed with one daughter, Brittany. He and Belinda celebrated more than 42 years of marriage, before his passing on May 4, 2026.

Michael attended University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and after graduation, he took advanced classes at Hughes Aircraft Company in El Segundo, California.

Michael was a top sales/installer, for The Federated Group, in Hollywood, California, for 3 years, and even installed equipment for Frank Zappa. In 1979, he was hired as an expeditor at Hughes Aircraft Company. He worked his way up within the company to a property supervisor position within the radar systems department. During his time at Hughes, he implemented a bar coding system for the property division that the company still uses to this day. Michael was fortunate enough to reach a secret clearance level position within his company and work on many various classified projects for the government and various entities while employed with Hughes.

After Michael retired from Hughes and the Northridge Earthquake destroyed his family’s California home, he decided to return to Ironwood with his wife and daughter. Michael worked various jobs after moving back to Ironwood, including helping with Ironwood American Legion Post 5 Fish Fry’s and delivering for Rigoni’s Bakery, Rovelsky’s, The Medicine Shoppe and Ironwood Plastics.

Michael loved to help coach his daughter with her various sports, pitch horseshoes, shoot pool, throw darts, snowmobiling, riding his moped, gardening, walking and listening to his music loud.

Michael is survived by his loving wife, Belinda, Ironwood; a daughter, Brittany Lehto (KP), Ironwood; a grandson, Cody, Ironwood; his half-sister, Colleen (Chuck) Geyer, Webster, Wisconsin; a nephew, Matt Hammer, and his daughters, Loren and MacKenzie, Webster; his sister-in-law, Elizabeth (Martin) Chavez, and their daughters, Natalie and Chloe Chavez (Chad Farrell), Placentia, California; his mother-in-law, Anna Almaraz, Rancho Santa Margarita, California; his maternal first cousin, Dave (Cici) Aho, and their sons, Casey and Kai; numerous extended Lehto/Aho/Brunello families; his 129 Crew; and close friends, including his “adopted” daughter, Candace Davis, and her daughter, Anyssa, Dave H., Johnny H., Muff, Monto, Sammy, Rod, Geno, the Lahti family, the Rocco Family, Rob Saari and Josh Flahaven… he knows too many people, if we forgot you, know he loved you too!!

Michael was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Chad; Uncle Glenn (Ida) Aho; two cousins, Jeff Aho and Gregory Aho; Uncle John Aho; Aunt Rose Aho; his father-in-law, Reynaldo Almaraz; and numerous other aunts, uncles and cousins.

A memorial service will be held Wednesday, July 8, at 11 a.m., at the Lakeside Memorial Chapel, 806 Putnam St., in Wakefield.

Lunch will be served in the old showroom of Lahti’s Chevrolet on Main Street in downtown Ironwood.

Private burial will take place at the Hurley Cemetery, Hurley, Wisconsin.

The family would like to express their deep appreciation to the staff of Northwest Wisconsin Cancer Center located at Tamarack Health in Ashland, Wisconsin and Regional Hospice, especially Mary and Sarah, for their excellent, compassionate care of Mike.

Jerald Rocco, owner and manager of Lakeside Memorial Chapel Inc., in Wakefield, is assisting the family. Expression of sympathy may be offered at lakesidememorialchapel.com