Link to Story: The nuclear missile next door Ed Butcher visits horses in a field miles from a silo housing a nuclear-armed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile on his ranch in Fergus County, Mont.

Link to Story: The nuclear missile next door

Ed Butcher visits horses in a field miles from a silo housing a nuclear-armed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile on his ranch in Fergus County, Mont.

The approach to the missile silo on a plot within the boundaries of the Butcher ranch.

The approach to the missile silo on a plot within the boundaries of the Butcher ranch.

The Air Force bought an acre of the Butcher ranch during the Cold War when it was deploying hundreds of missiles in the Great Plains as part of the U.S. nuclear deterrent against the Soviet Union.

The Air Force bought an acre of the Butcher ranch during the Cold War when it was deploying hundreds of missiles in the Great Plains as part of the U.S. nuclear deterrent against the Soviet Union.

The latch leading to the missile silo on the Butcher ranch.

The latch leading to the missile silo on the Butcher ranch.

Signs show directions and distances to various neighbors.

Signs show directions and distances to various neighbors.

Butcher checks a barbed-wire fence while inspecting parts of the 12,000-acre family ranch.

Butcher checks a barbed-wire fence while inspecting parts of the 12,000-acre family ranch.

Butcher, 78, checks the fuel level in a gas container on his property.

Butcher, 78, checks the fuel level in a gas container on his property.

Pronghorn graze on the Butchers’ ranch. The family settled the land in 1913.

Pronghorn graze on the Butchers’ ranch. The family settled the land in 1913.

Pam and Ed Butcher at their home on the ranch.

Pam and Ed Butcher at their home on the ranch.

A deactivated Minuteman missile in the county seat of Lewistown symbolizes the ties between Montana’s Fergus County and the military.

A deactivated Minuteman missile in the county seat of Lewistown symbolizes the ties between Montana’s Fergus County and the military.

A cross-section of the “hardened intersite cable” that links a launch control center with a number of remotely sited Minuteman missiles at a museum in Winifred, Mont.

A cross-section of the “hardened intersite cable” that links a launch control center with a number of remotely sited Minuteman missiles at a museum in Winifred, Mont.

Butcher, 78, looks out over Montana land on which generations of his family have made a living.

Butcher, 78, looks out over Montana land on which generations of his family have made a living.

Link to Story: The nuclear missile next door Ed Butcher visits horses in a field miles from a silo housing a nuclear-armed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile on his ranch in Fergus County, Mont.
The approach to the missile silo on a plot within the boundaries of the Butcher ranch.
The Air Force bought an acre of the Butcher ranch during the Cold War when it was deploying hundreds of missiles in the Great Plains as part of the U.S. nuclear deterrent against the Soviet Union.
The latch leading to the missile silo on the Butcher ranch.
Signs show directions and distances to various neighbors.
Butcher checks a barbed-wire fence while inspecting parts of the 12,000-acre family ranch.
Butcher, 78, checks the fuel level in a gas container on his property.
Pronghorn graze on the Butchers’ ranch. The family settled the land in 1913.
Pam and Ed Butcher at their home on the ranch.
A deactivated Minuteman missile in the county seat of Lewistown symbolizes the ties between Montana’s Fergus County and the military.
A cross-section of the “hardened intersite cable” that links a launch control center with a number of remotely sited Minuteman missiles at a museum in Winifred, Mont.
Butcher, 78, looks out over Montana land on which generations of his family have made a living.

Link to Story: The nuclear missile next door

Ed Butcher visits horses in a field miles from a silo housing a nuclear-armed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile on his ranch in Fergus County, Mont.

The approach to the missile silo on a plot within the boundaries of the Butcher ranch.

The Air Force bought an acre of the Butcher ranch during the Cold War when it was deploying hundreds of missiles in the Great Plains as part of the U.S. nuclear deterrent against the Soviet Union.

The latch leading to the missile silo on the Butcher ranch.

Signs show directions and distances to various neighbors.

Butcher checks a barbed-wire fence while inspecting parts of the 12,000-acre family ranch.

Butcher, 78, checks the fuel level in a gas container on his property.

Pronghorn graze on the Butchers’ ranch. The family settled the land in 1913.

Pam and Ed Butcher at their home on the ranch.

A deactivated Minuteman missile in the county seat of Lewistown symbolizes the ties between Montana’s Fergus County and the military.

A cross-section of the “hardened intersite cable” that links a launch control center with a number of remotely sited Minuteman missiles at a museum in Winifred, Mont.

Butcher, 78, looks out over Montana land on which generations of his family have made a living.

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