Jens Harry Mikkelsen

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

Butch was born April 19, 1950, in Ronan, MT, to Jens and Eleanor (Gainan) Mikkelsen. He joined older sisters Shirley & Janie, four yrs later his baby sister Mary Lou was born & completed the family.

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

After returning home, he took a job at Plum Creek Lumber in Pablo, MT. He met many good friends while working at the mill. In 1978 he wanted to return to his true love of working on helicopters. He relocated to Helena, MT, to pursue further aviation training in college. He finished college in 1980 & moved to CA to pursue his career. While there he worked in an aluminum plant, but the pull of working on helicopters was still in his blood. He left CA & went to Galveston, TX, where he started working on helicopters again.

He moved back to Missoula, MT & worked at Minute Man Aviation. While there he joined the Army Reserves. He was blessed during this time with his two daughters Adena, in 1975 & Casey, in 1983.

In 2003 he met & married his current wife Ann in Covington, Ky. They spent four years living in Germany & were able to tour eight European countries. They even celebrated their 3rd anniversary on top of the Eiffel Tower. He especially loved visiting Denmark, his family's “Motherland.”

Butch bought a few acres in York, PA where he raised horses & gardened. He stayed actively working on helicopters and fixed wing aircraft during this time. He worked in Iraq and Afghanistan for private military contractors, 3yrs ago, he decided to stay state side & was blessed to find an aviation job at Aberdeen Proving Ground in MD & was still working there at the time of his death.

Ten years ago, he started coming home to MT to take his grandson Cole hunting & be with his family. He looked forward to this yearly trip.

Every morning, he would enjoy his coffee while reading his bible, then would go out & feed his horses, cats, & wild birds. He was loving & giving & found great joy in helping others.

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

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

A graveside service will be held at Ronan Cemetery on November 21, 2025, at 3:30 pm.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made to Habitat for Humanity of the Mid-Willamette Valley, where his daughter Adena works. Checks can be mailed to 1220 12th St. SE, Salem, OR 97302 or visit www.salemhabitat.org.