Donnie was born November 8, 1942 in Dove Creek, Colorado, the son of Winston K and Willa Dean (Monger) Butt. He passed away peacefully on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, at his home in Cortez surrounded by members of his family who loved him dearly. He was 83 years old.

Donnie married his high school sweetheart Helen (Nolan) Butt at the age of 16. They had four wonderful children together and spent 66 happy years of marriage together.

He had a great love for the outdoors: fishing, hunting, camping and riding motorcycles, and most importantly rock hunting. Donnie, with Helen at his side, spent many years hunting, buying, selling, trading, and enjoying rocks of all sorts. He cut and polished agates and fossils — making, gifting, and selling beautiful jewelry.

Donnie spent his entire working career in the Uranium Mining Industry. He worked across Southwestern Colorado and Southeastern Utah in multiple mining and milling areas; Delaney’s Mining Camp, Dove Creek, Uravan, and Blanding to name a few. He worked both underground and above ground in numerous different positions, finishing out his career as a Geologist.

Surviving Donnie are his wife, Helen Marie Butt of Cortez; his children and their spouses, Monica (and Rick) Imel of Gilbert, AZ; Karl (and David Posner) Jeffries of Cortez, CO; Mindy (and Sam) Sickels of Naturita, CO. Grandchildren: Mathew (and Heidi) Mendisco of Hayden, CO; Kaila (and Jake) Pfetsch of Gilbert, AZ; Sierra (and John) Leivas of Gilbert, AZ; Yuliis Imel of Arcata, CA; and Corey (and Danielle) Imel of Gilbert, AZ,; Winston Posner of Cortez, CO; (Karl) Nathan (and Shayla) Posner of Cortez, CO; Ty (and Paige) Sickels of Nucla, CO; Tray (and Madison) Sickels of Norwood CO. Nineteen beloved great-grandchildren. His siblings Patsy (and Jim) Saunders of Grand Junction, CO; Janey (and Mike) Hankins of Dove Creek, CO; Terri (and Duley) Buffington of Dove Creek, CO.

Donnie was preceded in death by his brother Rodney K Butt, his daughter Pamela Mendisco, his sister Deanie (Winnie Dean) Hemphill, and his grandson Tad Hunter Sickels.

Celebration of Life for Cortez resident Donnie (Winston Clark) Butt will be held at 5pm on Friday, June 26, 2026, at Ertel Funeral Home, at 42 Market Street, Cortez, Colorado.