Dennis "Butch" Franklin Radkey

Dennis "Butch" Franklin Radkey passed away on August 26, 2026, after a long battle with Parkinson's and dementia. His claim to fame was his lifetime of service to the family farm. Some might say he was a man outstanding in his field...

It seems like everywhere you went, there was someone familiar with his legend, and they all spoke of the man in question with nothing short of adoration.

Butch was born on April 18, 1945, to Neoma and Ray Radkey. Right from the start, he dedicated his life to the family farm. It would be impossible to count the number of cows he milked, fields he planted, or rocks he picked.

He began school at Morton Corner and graduated from Ellsworth High School in 1963, where he passed with flying colors-in spite of releasing flying bats, if the legend is to be believed.

Butch was a man of few words who spoke as if words cost money, but when he did speak, there was a good chance his words would be imbued with his trademark dry sense of humor. His family labeled his particular brand of folksy wisdom as "Butchisms."

When his daughter Denise was talking about the cost of becoming a veterinarian, wise old Butch offered his two cents: "Well, the good thing about becoming a veterinarian is that you can eat your mistakes." And when something around the house or the farm broke, his preferred approach to some repairs was to "best leave it alone."

Aside from farming, which was a huge part of his life, he loved his cats (especially Wilbur), playing cards, coffee time at the farm, and happy hour at the Big Horn. He enjoyed long, meandering road trips to auctions and threshing shows, which wouldn't be complete without driving through one of the various implement dealer lots along the way.

Butch leaves behind his partner of nearly 50 years, Linda Houts; his children, Rachael (Erik), Denise (James), and Dan; grandchildren Freddie and Daphne; and lots of family and friends.

There will be a Happy Hour tribute to Butch at the Honey Hole Tavern in Beldenville at 5 p.m. on September 25 with food, refreshments, and reminiscing. On Saturday, September 26, there will be a celebration of life from 2-4pm, with a coffee-time tribute at 3 p.m., at O'Connell Funeral Home in River Falls, WI.

In lieu of flowers, donations to Parkinson's research are appreciated.

Arrangements are entrusted to O’Connell Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Ellsworth. For more information or to share a memory, please visit www.oconnellfuneralhomes.com or call 715-273-4421.