Mike was born on May 12, 1949 in Ventura, CA to the parents of Thomas and Arden (Folger) Lefors.  At the age of 5, Mike's mother and step-father, Vern Buck were living in Morro Bay.  The Buck family owned the Morro Bay Grocery Store.  At a young age, Mike helped to stock the shelves.  When he was old enough to get his drivers license, his job was to deliver orders from the store to the local fisherman down at the wharf.  He was happy to do so as he drove his first vehicle, a 1949 Ford pickup, to make the deliveries to the boats. Mike even had spare time to use his long board to do some occasional  surfing down by the Rock.

As time went on, he had a strong desire for working with heavy equipment maintenance and diesel repair.  He worked on a night crew with the repairing of the Cuyama highway near Santa Maria.  Before coming to Laton,  he worked as a diesel mechanic for Alex Madonna, owner of the Madonna Inn, in San Luis Obispo. He always recalled, Phyliss Madonna, coming into the shop, and asking him to paint things for the Inn, in the Madonna Pink color. On one occasion, even John Wayne was at the shop area where Mike was introduced to him.

Mike moved to Laton in 1977, and was always grateful to have found employment as a diesel mechanic for Verdegaal Bro's.Trucking at Grangeville in Hanford.   He was schooled in GM Detroit engine repair, his favorite of all the diesel engines, but enjoyed working on them all.

On November 26, 1977, Mike and Connie Hilderbrand were married.  They were married for 47 years, spending only 2 nights apart during that time. They were 2 peas in a pod, as the saying goes,  and had a wonderful life together. Many cruises with family and friends throughout the years, but their favorite were the 2 cruises to Tahiti on their 30th and 40th anniversary.

In the mid 1980's, Mike starting helping with the Hilderbrand family farming and harobedding alfafa hay for local farmers and dairymen in the Hanford and Riverdale area,  even going as far as Wheelers Ridge, by the Grapevine.  When the hay bale size changed, meaning newer equipment, Mike decided to make a change also.

Mike got his Real Estate license in 1999, working the last 23 years for London Properties. Becoming a realtor was a type of legacy for him, as his  grandparents, the LeFors were Real Estate Brokers in Ventura, starting in the later 1940's.

All of the years, whether overhauling engines, repairing trucks, farming, listing or selling real estate, he appreciated and was thankful and grateful for the work that came to him.  He worked hard at it all and always tried to be detailed in everything he did.  One of his main objectives with his work, actually comes from a Bible principle….The Golden Rule.  "Treat others like you would like them to treat you",  which was printed on many real estate fliers.

Because of what he had learned from studying the Bible, he wanted to share that with others.  Mike was baptized in 1974 as one of Jehovah's Witnesses at the San Diego Stadium . He spent time teaching others about God's Kingdom and what it will do for man.  He had a strong faith in Jehovah God's promise of a beautiful paradise on earth, God's original purpose for man and also  about seeing the resurrection of our dead loved ones.  Some of the scriptures he shared with others are:

Psalms 37:29…"The righteous will possess the earth and they will live forever on it."

Isaiah 33:24…."And no resident will say: "I am sick."

Revelation 21:4..."And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes and death will be no more"….

Mike is survived by his wife Connie of 47 years.

2 sons: Michael Buck and wife Michelle of Atascadero, Brandon LeFors and wife Sara of Laton

2 Grandchildren: Brendon Alexander Buck of Missoula, Montana, Isabelle Kathleen LeFors of Laton

2  sisters: Adele Lefors of Ojai, and Marisa Buck of Arroyo Grande.

1 brother: Dale Lefors of Ventura

A brother in-law and sister in-law: Stephen and Claudia Hilderbrand of Laton

A memorial service will be held on February 1, 2025 at 1:00 pm at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses in Lemoore, CA

11028 17th Ave.

Lemoore, CA   93245

Zoom will be available also:

Meeting ID: 501-858-191

Password: 1914

Refreshments will be served following services.

Riverdale Memorial Hall

3085 W Mt Whitney Ave

Riverdale, CA  93656

The family wants to thank all the friends for their loving support, cards, flowers and prayers.