On a stormy July day, in Deadwood, South Dakota, Lynne Millikan finished her battle with cancer and instantly knew peace. She had fought long and bravely, her family loving and supporting her. Lynne loved life, and she dearly loved her kids, grandkids, and fur babies, but she let go of this world and went on to join her husband, Richard, who had gone to heaven before her.

Lynne Ellen Skyberg was born in Luverne, Minnesota, on June 29, 1948, to Jeanne and Elmer Skyberg, joining three older siblings. She was the darkhaired little beauty of the family and adored by her brother and sisters. Later, the whole family left the state saturated in Norse heritage and culture and moved to a sunny little valley in Southern California that was surrounded by orange and apple orchards and chicken ranches, settling in the small town of Yucaipa. There, two more siblings joined the ranks, a sister and brother. Money might not have been plentiful in the Skyberg home during many of those years, but love and laughter always was, and the loyalty of those six siblings, and the care and respect for their parents never faltered.

Lynne spent her young adult years in Willamina, Oregon, where the family had moved in the summer of '67. She met and married Richard Millikan there, and their firstborn son, Anthony, and daughter, Rene, were both born in Oregon. The young family lived on a pretty house on the hill with her two sisters nearby and her parents across town. Lynne loved Oregon and being with family, and she never lost the feeling that it was home, but Richard wanted to try new places so they packed up and moved to the same area of Southern California where Lynne had spent her youth. They had two more children there, completing their family with daughter, Lisa, and son, Richard. Lynne and Richard raised their kids in a variety of places in California before finally deciding that South Dakota was where they wanted to settle permanently.

Lynne was a wife and mom above all. She stayed home and cared for her children, always making sure they had nice meals and felt safe and loved. In this, it echoed her own upbringing, including filling her home with laughter and fun times.

Lynne was an avid sports fan and definitely had a good time cheering her favorite teams on as the family watched games together. She was a good cook, something learned from her own mom, and something she passed on to her own kids.

Lynne was the kind of mom you could wake up in the middle of the night when you were lonely or scared, and you knew she'd be there to listen and care. To her friends and family, she was generous and warm and loving, with a genuinely kind heart.

Lynne, wherever she was, always made sure she had plenty of dogs and cats to raise. Her love for animals was epic, and her tender heart ached at the idea of any animal being at risk. She closely followed and advocated for the wild horses and burros in this country, always trying to raise awareness of the injustice of their plight. If anyone had a dog needing to be rescued, they knew they could bring it to Lynne to love and care for.

Lynne was always a flower child at heart. Her passion for the music and the rockstars of her era was with her until her very last day as she listened to her favorites in her hospital bed. She had a creative heart and an eye for pretty things. One of the sayings she liked was, "Don't ever be ashamed of loving the strange things that make your weird little heart happy." This beautifully embodies the Lynne that those who loved her knew, with her eclectic style and her quirky sense of humor.

She always had a special devotion to her Norwegian heritage, the Oregon coast, the little apple themed town of Oak Glen, California, and a fascination with old, steam engine trains. A glimpse at Lynne's Facebook page, where she diligently kept in touch with family and dear friends, was a glimpse into her world and all the things she held dear. Lynne was the kind of woman who held up other people's small victories and joys in life with praise and delight, and she was a woman who took the sorrows of others into her own heart and wept over them.

The loss of those who passed before her was always particularly difficult for Lynne, even though she knew that gone didn't mean gone forever. Because of the promise of everlasting life made by her Savior, Jesus Christ, when Lynne left for heaven to join her beloved husband, she was welcomed into heaven by her dear mom and dad, her niece, Shonna Johnson, and brother-in-law, Gordon, and her nephew, Cody, as well as a slew of beloved animals who have crossed the Rainbow Bridge over the years.

She left behind an entire family and many dear friends who will miss her until the day they see her again. Her absence is being deeply felt by her children, Tony Millikan of Arizona, Rene Millikan of South Dakota, Lisa Arnoldussen of Colorado, Richard Millikan of South Dakota, and grandkids, Abigail, Madelene, Isabella, and Jackson Millikan, Nick Eves, Faith, Chloe, and Lilah Arnoldussen, Dixie Englund, and Traci Lynne Millikan, well as siblings Loren Skyberg of Redlands, California, Gloria Dalgity, Karen Johnson, and Janelle Stuckey of Willamina, Oregon, and Curt Skyberg of Rickreal, Oregon, along with many nieces and nephews and their children.

Dearest Lynne, for you we will sing along with the music you loved, appreciate the unique beauty of each new day, and love with all our weird and quirky hearts, for as long as we can, and then we'll meet again... You are so very loved.

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