Millett, Burton Harris

Subject

BIRTH 6 Dec 1917
Oldham, Kingsbury County, South Dakota, USA

DEATH 9 Jun 1972 (aged 54)
Rapid City, Pennington County, South Dakota, USA

BURIAL
Black Hills National Cemetery
Sturgis, Meade County, South Dakota, USA

Description

Burton Harris Millett was born to Benjamin Harrison (Harry) Millett and Anna Christina (Jensen) Millett on 12/06/1917 in Oldham, South Dakota. The family lived at various farms and homes in and around the Oldham and Lake Preston area in Kingsbury County.

On May 14, 1942 he joined the US Army 37 276 141 Technician Fifth Grade Company 347th General Service Engineers, he participated in the Normandy battle, Northern France, Rhine Land, and Central Europe.

While in England he met his wife Phyllis Irene Dayer and married at St Thomas Immanuel on August 18, 1945. He separated from the US Army October 12,1945 and headed back to the United States and specifically Lake Preston, South Dakota. March 18th, 1946 Phyllis boarded the ship U.S.A.T. President Tyler to join her husband in Lake Preston; landing on U.S. soil (New York City) on April,1 1946.

Together Burton and Phyllis raised 4 children: Janet Francis (Odden), Sheila Christine (Hodson), Steven Curtis and Craig Edward in Lake Preston. Burton obtained his plumbers license and worked for various local plumbers until he opened his own plumbing, heating and cooling business. During his life he had many interests.

He especially enjoyed bird hunting, fishing and camping with his friends and family. He was a devoted son and father. Burton was a friend to many in his home town area. He had two special friends Gillman and Raymond Nelson; both of the Nelson boys also married while in Europe and their families quickly became a part of his extended family.

In late 1971 Burton and Phyllis decided to relocate to the Rapid City area at the urging of another long time friend Babe Baumberger.

Burton obtained a plumbing position in the Rapid City area and upon securing a home for his family was planning on moving his wife and teenaged son's to the Rapid City area.

On June 9,1972 Burton lost his life in the Rapid City Flood.

He was survived by his wife Phyllis, daughters Janet and Dale Odden, grandchildren: Cadet Odden, Corey Odden and Kevin Odden, (Lake Preston); Sheila and Richard Hodson, (Topeka, KS); sons Steven Millett and Craig Millett. His mother Christina Millett (Oldham, SD) His sisters: Edith and Don Miller (Mount Vernon, TX), Oral and Harry Larson (Tremonton, Utah), Audrey and Alfred Crawford (Alger, MI), Geneva and Jody Hass (Huston, TX), Shirley Nesse (Redondo Beach, CA) Vivian and Bob Cottrell (Simi Valley, CA), Veloy Knaup (Tampa, FL) ; brothers: Raymond Millett (Oldham, SD) and Roger and Dolly Millett(Huntington Beach, CA) and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his Father

Files

Burton Millett.jpg
Burton Millett Grave.jpg

Collection

Citation

“Millett, Burton Harris,” Flood of 1972, accessed March 29, 2024, https://1972flood.omeka.net/items/show/401.