Michael Albert "Butch " Ellis

1958 - 2011

A well-known member of the Delta Junction community, Michael Albert Ellis, 52, passed quietly into the next life Jan. 20, 2011, with with his beloved wife, Bethe, at his side.
Butch was born Aug. 18, 1958, in Pocatello, Idaho to Albert and Carla Ellis.
In 1977, Butch traveled to Alaska with his dad where they had Al's jet boat service in Willow. When his father died, Butch inherited the business. However, in 1983 Butch made a move that would forever change his life. He relocated to the small Interior town of Delta Junction.
He was one of the early Arctic Man racers, donning a pair of skis to race behind a snowmachine going at speeds most of us never reach on the highway.
An avid outdoorsman, Butch frequented the hills of Black Rapids when the nearby Army slopes were a popular weekend destination, and he taught many youngsters to ski. Butch also loved to golf and he had a lifelong passion for hunting waterfowl.
In 1992 Butch met Bethe, the woman who became his wife and the mother of his two daughters, Grace and Emmie. Bethe had been in Alaska only a couple of days before she met Butch. "In 1994 our first daughter was born, in 1996 we were married at Twin Falls, Idaho, and in 1997 we were blessed with another daughter."
Bethe recalled when Butch felt the girls should be introduced to camping, he sold his prized motorcycle and bought a truck with a camper. Later, when the girls were older and the camping trips became less frequent, he kept the setup and bought another motorcycle. He taught Emmie to ride motorcycles, and she grew to love riding as much as her father.
Butch encouraged his daughters' interests: skiing, skating, volleyball, horseback riding and softball. And as any true, good Alaskan dad, Butch took his daughters hunting. Emmie bagged her first moose and caribou in 2008.
For several years, Butch worked for Loretta Schooley as a school bus driver at Alaska Motor Coaches. Five years ago, he was hired as a heavy equipment operator with the city of Delta Junction and later became the Public Works manager, supervising street maintenance and landfill operations.
Butch discovered he had pancreatic cancer in 2007 and underwent treatment. All was going well until October 2010. The cancer had returned. The family spent Christmas in Idaho, but their vacation was cut short when Butch was hospitalized. His greatest desire was to return to Delta Junction with his wife and daughters to his two dogs and the home he loved. Seven days after returning to Delta, he passed away.
Butch joins his grandparents, Al and Ruby Taylor, and his father, Albert Ellis.
He is survived by his wife, Bethe, and daughters, Grace and Emmie, of Delta Junction; his mother, Carla, sisters, Lora and Tracy, and niece, Alexandria, aunt Glamae (Dave) Griggs, and uncle Arlen Taylor, all of Pocatello; and many extended family and friends.
His family stated, "Butch won his battle with cancer. It may have taken his life, but it did not take his spirit. He left this life just like he wanted, at home, in Alaska, with me by his side. He was very done with this earthly body and was ready to see what's next. He was a wonderful husband, father, and best friend, and we will miss him terribly. We already do."
A service will be held at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 5, at Clearwater Baptist Church, Clearwater and Remington roads.
A celebration of life and potluck will follow at the Clearwater Lodge.
Arrangements were entrusted to Fairbanks Funeral Home.