Jens Harry "Butch" Mikkelsen, 75

On Nov. 10, 2025, Jens Harry "Butch" Mikkelsen of York, Penn., was called home to be with his Lord and Savior.

Butch was born April 19, 1950, in a small log house on Eisenhower St. S.E. in Ronan to Jens and Eleanor (Gainan) Mikkelsen. He joined older sisters Shirley and Janie. Four years later his baby sister, Mary Lou, was born and completed the family.

 He attended Ronan Schools from grade school through high school. Following his education, Butch was drafted into the Army, where he served as a helicopter mechanic during two tours in the Vietnam War. He was a sergeant and also a Bronze Star recipient for his bravery during the war.

After returning home, Butch took a job at Plum Creek Lumber Co. in Pablo. He met many good friends while working at the mill. Then, in 1978, he wanted to return to his true love of working on helicopters. He relocated to Helena to pursue further aviation training in college.

He finished college in 1980 and moved to California to pursue his career. While there he worked in an aluminum plant. He said he was making fantastic money, but the pull of working on helicopters was still in his blood.

He left California and went to Galveston, Texas, where he finally started working on helicopters again. These helicopters would service the offshore oil rigs.

Eventually he moved back to Missoula and worked at Minute Man Aviation. While there he joined the Army Reserves and became a weekend warrior. Once again, he was serving his country.

Butch was blessed during this time with his two daughters, Adena in 1975, and Casey in 1983.

In 2003 he met and married his current wife, Ann, in Covington, Ky. They began their many adventures together. They spent four years living in Germany and were able to tour eight European countries during this time. They even celebrated their third anniversary on top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris. Butch especially loved visiting Denmark, his family's “Motherland.”

Butch bought a few acres in York, Penn., where he raised horses and gardened. He stayed actively working on helicopters and fixed wing aircraft during this time. He worked in Iraq and Afghanistan for private military contractors, on various Army bases.

About three years ago, he decided to stay state side and was blessed to find an aviation job at Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland and was still working there at the time of his death.

About 10 years ago he started coming home to Montana for opening day of elk hunting season, to take his grandson Cole hunting and be with his brother-in-law, Bill Cordis, and many nieces and nephews. He looked forward to this yearly trip and was here again this year.

Every morning, Butch would enjoy his coffee while reading his Bible, then would go out and feed his horses, cats and wild birds. He was loving and giving, a faithful tither and with the blessings he received from God, he found great joy in helping others.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Jens and Eleanor Mikkelsen, sister Mary Lou (Mikkelsen) LaDue, and brother-in-law William (Bill) Cordis.

Butch is survived by his wife, Ann; daughters Adena Mikkelsen of Salem, Ore., and Casey (Tim) Kelly, along with grandson Cole Seward of Thompson Falls; his sisters Shirley Cordis of St. Ignatius and Janie (Don) Bauer of Ronan; along with many beloved nieces and nephews.

A visitation was held on Friday, Nov. 21, 2025, at the Shrider Funeral Home, followed by full Military Honors at the Ronan Cemetery.