Delton Buttke

Delton Buttke, age 90, of Milbank, SD, passed away on Friday, April 16, 2021, at Milbank Area Hospital – Avera Health.

A public visitation to allow friends and relatives to pay their respects to Delton will be held on Friday, April 23, 2021, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Mundwiler Funeral Home in Milbank. Due to CoVID precautions, the family will not be present during this time. Likewise, a private family service will be held on Saturday, April 24, 2021, at 2:00 p.m. at Peace Lutheran Church in Milbank. Burial will take place at the Milbank Cemetery.

While maintaining social distancing guidelines, we are able to gather for visitations and services. The use of face masks by attendees is highly recommended, and we will continue taking the necessary steps to keep our facility clean. For those who prefer or require continued precautions, webcasting and/or livestreaming will be available at the bottom of this page.

Delton Carl Buttke was born on April 22, 1930, to Edwin and Minnie (Schwandt) Buttke in Kilborn Township of Grant County, SD. He was baptized and confirmed into the Lutheran faith at Trinity Lutheran Church in Corona. He was a devoted member of Peace Lutheran Church in Milbank.

Delton attended school at Kilborn #1 school. He worked alongside his father on the family farm until he was drafted into the United States Army in 1951. Delton served in the Army until 1953, when upon his father death, he agreed to return home to help support his mother by taking over the operation of the farm.

After Delton’s mother passed away in 1979, he continued to work on the farm and took great pride in raising purebred cattle. Delton purchased the farm from his siblings in 1980 and continued to live on the site until 2007, when he purchased a home in Milbank, where he resided until the time of his death. When the time came for Delton to stop farming, he began renting his land to his very close friend and neighbor, Todd Keller, who throughout the years became like a son to Delton.

Delton became close friends with many of his other neighbors both on the farm and in Milbank. He took great pleasure in helping people whenever a need arose.

The coffee crew and the staff at the Millstone restaurant, where he ate many of his meals, became like family to him. He maintained many lifelong friendships with people in both the Corona and Wilmot area.

His faith, his church, and his family were vitally important to him. He enjoyed spending holidays and quality time with the many members of his extended family.

Delton is survived by his sister-in-law, Bertha (Mickey) Buttke of Milbank, SD; his nieces and nephews: Lois (Gerald) Grimm of Milbank, SD; Carol Buttke of Plainfield, NJ; Jeffrey (Rhoda) Buttke of Kenmore, WA; Linda (Donald) Karnik of Holbrook, NY; Judy (Gary) Karnik of Leland, NC; Gordon Nelling, Jr. of Calverton, NY; Joy (Gary) Berry of Milbank, SD; Michael (Gwenda) Buttke of Fergus Falls, MN; James Buttke of Sioux Falls, SD; Teresa (Mike) Dornbusch of Papillion, NE; and Robert Buttke (Kelly Monaghan) of Thornbury, Ontario, Canada; along with many grandnieces, grandnephews, and their children.

He was preceded in death by his parents; four sisters: Bernice (Roy) Oltman, Velva (Gordon) Nelling, Luella Buttke, and Laverna Buttke; two brothers: Marlen Buttke and Leslie (Phyllis) Buttke and his nephew, Marlow Oltman.