Michael Allan Saltsman passed away peacefully at his home on Sunday, September 15, 2019, surrounded by his family after losing his battle with cancer.
Mike was born in Minot, North Dakota on May 27, 1977 to Pat and William Saltsman. He attended North Hill Elementary school through 4th grade, when he then moved to Bismarck, North Dakota. There he graduated from Century High School in 1995. He focused his athleticism in the outdoors where he found a passion for snowboarding, skateboarding and mountain biking. He lived the motto, ‘Do what you love and you will never work a day in your life' spending 2 years as an employee at Dakota Cyclery. During those years he was part of what is still remembered as the ‘Dream Team'. He was a natural in the store, because his knowledge and passion for biking came through in all his interactions. In the summers he led mountain biking tours on the Maah Daah Hey trail in Medora, ND. In the winters, snowboarding took over and he was famous for finding any ditch, berm or hill that could be turned into a snowboarding spot.
After a few years he knew he needed more and moved with a friend to Utah to continue his passion for snowboarding. During his early years in Salt Lake City he received a degree in Graphic Design. He worked as a designer for many years, until he later attended the University of Utah and graduated with a degree in Computer Science. He then began working with the Richardson Family, and over the last decade has enjoyed working in many ventures with them, including Purestream Technologies.
On February 11, 2006 Mike married the love of his life, Elizabeth (Lizzie) Kathleen Offret in Salt Lake City, and together they have four beautiful children. Mike started out a bit skittish about being a dad, but once their first child came along he was hooked. He loved to involve his kids in all of his activities, teaching them to skateboard from the time they could walk, taking them on bike rides as toddlers, and taking them skiing and snowboarding as they grew a little older. He could be found driving the car on a road trip, singing along at the top of his lungs with the whole family, who he often referred to as "his crew". He was passionate about teaching his kids everything, from mowing the lawn, to putting grip tape on a skate deck. He also wanted to teach them compassion and empathy, and he would often take his older kids downtown in the winter to distribute socks and hand warmers to the homeless.
Mike was always the nicest guy in the room. He was never too busy or too cool to talk to anyone, and he made everyone feel like the most important person. He loved helping neighbors with outdoor tasks and would often scurry out of bed early in a snowstorm so he could snowblow the sidewalks before they were up. He made friends wherever he went, and left impressions on everyone. He truly was the best!
Mike collected friends like he collected hobbies. Some of his recent hobbies included adventure motorcycles, coffee roasting, firearms, skateboard companies, HAM radio and more. He loved sharing his hobbies with others and using them to bring people together. He started a motorcycle club and with friends coordinated group rides on various trails throughout the year. He created AMAO Skateboards as a way to honor his kids and one of his favorite hobbies, using it as a way to bring friends together. He found friends in the neighborhood who had a passion for HAM radio and firearms, and they would get together often to show off new things or study for tests together. He loved building snowboard features in friends' backyards and cheering on adults and kids alike as they took turns enjoying them. Some of his favorite days were when friends would simply gather at his home to skateboard, swim and hang out.
Mike is survived by his wife Lizzie and their children Asher, Milo, Annabelle, and Oliver as well as his mother Pat Saltsman, his father William (Julie) Saltsman, and his brother Douglas Saltsman.
A celebration of life (open house) will be held at the Saltsman home, Sunday, September 22nd from 5-7 pm, at 2656 Comanche Dr. Salt Lake City.
The funeral service will be held Monday, September 23rd at 11:30 am at the Church building on 1320 S Wasatch Dr, Salt Lake City. A visitation will be held prior from 10:30-11:15 am.
