Butch Donovan Millikin

Dear Friends and Family of Butch Donovan Millikin,
This is a message to all of our beloved’s friends and family from his “three girls” as he calls us; his wife Nancy and daughters Angie and Michelle.
You have traveled with us through joyous and challenging times this past year.
Whichever it was, we feel your love and connection to Butch. Your messages have brought smiles to Butch and we’ve enjoyed sharing these moments with him.
Our hearts are shattered that on July 29, Butch left his earthly body at the Ogallala Community Hospital with the three of us by his side. Not diagnosed until April, he had been suffering with esophageal cancer since February. Though his prognosis was not favorable upon diagnosis, he fought with all his strength to be with us a few more months.
The tears of mourning now replace the visions of struggle. It’s going to be hard living without our hero, but we believe with all of our being that he is not gone, but lives within each of us that he has touched. His love, his compassion, and his wit live on in all of our memories.
Born Butch Donovan Millikin, May 2, 1943 in Holyoke, Colorado to Jarvis J. Millikin and Marie (Jung) Millikin. He is survived by his wife, Nancy (House) Millikin of Brule, Michelle Millikin of Brule, Angie Millikin Goodgame of Arizona, brother-in-law Jerry House of North Platte, grandson, Matthew Goodgame of Arizona, and countless chosen family that he had collected over the years including Mindy Hulinsky Bridge and her daughters, and Madison Jehorek Strhol and her children.
Butch graduated from Brule high school in 1961 and later attended tech school in Denver where he studied to be an auto body repairman. For nearly six decades, he has lived in Brule and has been the owner/operator of B&J Salvage, working side by side with his father, Jarvis, until his death in 2013.
In association with the Vietnam conflict, he was drafted by the Army in 1961 and attended basic training at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri. His unit was never called up but continued to train in the National Guard through 1968. Many of his lifelong friends were those that he served with in the National Guard.
A classic car enthusiast, his hobbies centered around 1950s cars, music and pop culture. 2022 was to mark his retirement from his business so he could spend time attending car shows and rod runs; unfortunately God had another plan.
Butch was proceeded in death by his parents, Marie Millikin and Jarvis Millikin, father-in-law Marvin House, mother-in-law Jeaneen (Hinton) House and various aunts, uncles and cousins.
Attendees of the funeral are encouraged to dress casually. Many are wearing jeans and their favorite car show t-shirt. Butch meant so much to so many different people; his family, his friends, his work buddies and his car brothers. If you are moved to express something about Butch at the services, please contact Angie at 678-777-6422 so we can accommodate you.
Funeral services will be held Friday, Aug. 5 at 11 a.m. at the Brule Activity Center in Brule with Pastor Bobby Brueggeman of Church of Christ officiating.
Interment will be in the Brule cemetery.
There will be no visitation.
Memorials have been established to the Brule Fire Department and Nebraska Loves Cats of Chappell.
Services will be live streamed. Online condolences may be left at www.drauckerfh.com by clicking the share memory button.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Draucker Funeral Home.