Milo Birkley

Milo "Mike" W. Birkley passed away Saturday, January 22, 2022, at home surrounded by his wife and family.

On Wednesday, January 26, 2022, funeral services will be held at 10:30 am, at Salem Lutheran Church of Dakota City, NE, with Pastor Sandra Braasch officiating. The service will be live streamed on the Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church Facebook Page. Burial with military rites will follow at Silver Ridge Cemetery, Ponca, NE. Visitation will be held Tuesday, January 25, from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm, with a prayer service at 7:00 pm.

Milo was born November 19, 1927, in rural Maskell, Nebraska, the 5th son of Ole and Josie (Johnson) Birkley. He was baptized and confirmed in Zion Lutheran Church in Maskell and attended Maskell and Lime Creek Schools with his five brothers and one sister. Growing up in a Norwegian home, he was instilled with a strong faith in God and valued a hard day's work, giving generously to others. He fell in love with farming at an early age, working the land with his father and brothers in the rugged Maskell hills.

The family then moved to a farm near Willis, Nebraska, and his passion for the land continued, receiving the Nebraska FFA State Star Farmer Award in high school at Ponca. After graduating in 1945, he continued farming until being drafted into the Army in April 1951, where he served in Germany. He bought his first camera there and began shooting the thousands of photographs he would take during his lifetime. After his honorable discharge in 1953, Milo returned home to farm near Willis.

In 1953, Milo married Lucille Hinz, and they welcomed two daughters, Dolie and Valerie. Lucille's life was cut short by a car accident. In time, he began to enjoy music events and dancing again. Milo met Phyllis Fahrenholz on the dancefloor and eventually asked, “May I have this dance for the rest of my life?” and she became his bride in 1962. Two more daughters, Carla and Amy joined the family. In 1962 he bought a farm near Hubbard, Nebraska.The family lived there until building their current home on the Missouri River bluff in 1990.

Milo sold Pioneer Seed Corn for nearly 50 years, was a longtime member of the Nebraska State Soybean Board, and a charter member of the National Cattlemen’s Association. He was instrumental in the establishment of the University of Nebraska NE Agriculture Experimental Station in Concord, where he served as a charter member.

He was a member of Omadi Masonic Lodge No. 5 and Abu Bekr Shrine. He enjoyed horseback riding, was a member of Dixota Wranglers Saddle Club, and was active in Hubbard Jr Feeders 4-H Club with his children. He also served on the Salem Lutheran Church Council and Emerson-Hubbard School Board and was a permanent member of Harty McNally Legion Post #175.

Milo amassed an impressive list of memberships and activities in his lifetime, but his fondest love was for family and friends, storytelling, farming, and dogs. He loved spending time with grandchildren, attending their activities, and enjoying Tuesday night suppers with his grandsons.

He had many opportunities for traveling with family and always had a special love for the oceans. He had a lifelong interest in agricultural technology and was one of the first farmers in the area to practice no-till and use commercial fertilizer. He raised border collie/blue heeler pups and later golden retrievers. His beagle, Snoopy, was a constant companion for many years.

He always remained grateful for his military service in Germany, which sparked an interest in international affairs, world markets, and a lifelong love of travel and photography.

Over the years, Milo and Phyllis welcomed seven international exchange students into their home: Anne-Barbara Warnstedt-Hornung, Ute Hiller Meyer, Einhild Waerum Evensen, Torild "Misty" Johanssen, Anelise Tordivelli, Thays Tordivelli Maximiano, and Lars Herman Meier. They stayed in touch with and have visited their international family in Germany, Norway, Brazil, and New Zealand.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Ole and Josie Birkley, first wife, Lucille Birkley, sister and brother-in-law Mardell and Merle Kurtz, brothers and sisters-in-law Lynn and Edna, Dale and Evelyn, Waldo and Joy, Ray and Joyce, Joe and Janet, and son-in-law Craig Christensen.

He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Phyllis; daughters, Dolie (Richard) Thompson, Val (RC) Christensen-Clements, Carla Birkley-Coon, Amy (Greg) Utech, and grandchildren Brandon Thompson, Corissa Thompson (Joel), Shannon (Chris) Von Minden, Chad (Jennifer) Christensen, Curtis Austin (Jodie) Christensen, Hannah Coon (Caleb), Jesse Coon, Jael Coon, Gabriel Coon, Uriel Coon, Tovah Coon, Scott Utech, Zach (Alyssa) Utech, Jordan Utech (Rebecca), Josie Broders, Shelby Utech, Katherine Utech, 14 great-grandchildren, 45 nieces and nephews, many great-nieces and nephews, and longtime friend, Harlan Stingley.

Auf Wiedersehen, Dad!