June 29, 1935 – May 19, 2024

Richard Arthur “Dick” Butler passed away on Sunday, May 19, 2024, in Valley View Hospital in Glenwood Springs, Colorado. His children, Monica and Michael were with him, surrounding him in love and honoring his wishes of a quick and painless passing.
Dick was born on June 29, 1935, on the Butler Ranch in Craig, Colorado. He was the third child born to Kay and Wiley Butler. Dick spent his life working the ranch. He farmed, raised cattle, sheep, and Appaloosa horses. He was a truck driver, contractor, manufacturer, and skilled craftsman in leather works, photography, and wood working. He attended the Lower Big Gulch one room schoolhouse for 8 years and graduated from Moffat County High School in 1953. He kept in close contact with his graduating class and shared many treasured memories with them while cruising the high seas.
He served in the U.S. Army from 1961 until January 1965. He was stationed in Fort Bliss, TX, when the Cuban Missile Crisis began. His unit was on the train ready to be deployed to the Bay of Pigs, just as the crisis ended. He was then sent to Wildflicken, Germany where he was responsible for the maintenance of the generators that powered the HAWK missiles. While there, he got involved in the Army base craft shop where he taught woodworking and leather crafts. He traveled throughout Europe while stationed in Germany. He went to the Tulip Festival in Holland, enjoyed the Matterhorn in Switzerland, and attended the 1964 winter Olympics in Innsbruck, Austria. He watched Billy Kidd from Steamboat Springs compete and win the Olympic medal. He received an Honorable discharge on January 1, 1965, and returned to the ranch to take over the operation from his father.
In 1966, Dick attended veterinary school in Chicago, Illinois and became a Certified Cattle AI Technician. He used that knowledge on the ranch to raise herds of Charolais, Angus, Simmental, and Longhorn cattle.
In November 1968, in Tucumcari, New Mexico Dick met a cute little Greek girl who needed help driving her car east towards New York. Those were the “Good Ole Days” when you let strangers drive your car. On October 3, 1969, Dick and Alexandra “Aleka” Mavroudis were married in his parents living room on the ranch. To this marriage, 3 infants were lost, and 2 children were adopted; Monica in 1972 and Michael in 1974. Dick taught Aleka everything she knows about farming, livestock, driving truck, construction, and conservation. After 35 years of marriage, Dick and Aleka divorced, but remained friends and travel partners. Dick continued to guide her with the farming, making sure the ranch prospered. Dick became a dear friend to Monte Boston. Monte helped Dick around his home and woodshop, listened to his stories and guidance about the ranch, and spent many hours driving to craft shows to sell Dick’s creations. While traveling, they listened to Paul Harvey’s “God Made a Farmer” speech.
To Monica and Michael, Dick was the greatest Dad that could ever be. He instilled in us a very strong work ethic, a love of getting our hands dirty, an understanding of nature and animals, the importance of kindness, a love of travel and seeing beauty no matter where you are, and the belief that we can do whatever we set our minds to. He was our rock, our friend, our confidant, and business partner.
In 2006, Dick married Claysil Gibson. Unfortunately, their years were short due to Claysil’s brain cancer. Dick stood by her side and cared for her until her death in 2011.
Dick has 2 grandchildren, Amanda Zoe and Logan Riley Wilt. He cherished them and enjoyed every minute he had with them. Together they baked cookies, drove tractors, fed the birds and ducks, went fishing, bird watching, watering trees, turned wood on his lathe, target practiced, built birdhouses, and worked craft shows. He attended school plays, gymnastic competitions, award ceremonies, toured the innovation campus Logan attended, and graduation. He instilled in them a love of nature, a love for the ranch, and his strong work ethic. They loved to listen to his stories. He always reminded them to Stay Humble and Kind.
Dick was recognized numerous times by several organizations, including NRCS for various conservation efforts and projects. In 1991, our family was recognized by Governor Romer as the Conservation Family of the Year for tree planting.
Dick loved life! He enjoyed traveling, taking cruises, planting trees and flowers, riding his horse Socks at full gallop chasing cows, and skiing in his big red down filled ski jacket, wearing his Stetson cowboy hat. He loved to fish and hunt. He enjoyed train rides, rafting and canoeing, snorkeling and scuba diving despite not being able to swim. He loved driving truck and seeing the countryside. In the millions of miles that he drove a semi, he hauled cattle, grain, onions, watermelons, grapefruit, Christmas trees, hay, pallets of stakes, lumber, pipe, and sawdust. He loved farming! He touched every field on the ranch. He loved birds! He was a diehard Broncos fan, loved old western shows, and listening to music. His greatest love was working in his woodshop. It didn’t matter if he was building pallets, cutting stakes, or making birdhouses. He loved wood! His retirement years were spent traveling to craft shows where his “smile makers” caught everyone’s attention. Dad’s birdhouses, pens, and kitchen utensils are in several states and countries.
Dick is survived by his children, Monica(Charles) Wilt, Michael(Annabelle) Butler, grandchildren Amanda Zoe and Logan Riley Wilt, his ex-wife Aleka Butler and Monte Boston, his sister Mary Lou(John) Allen, and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Wiley and Kay Butler, his sister Clara Stewart, his brother Harry Butler, his mother-in-law Persa Mavroudis, his 2nd wife Claysil Butler, and his nephew Kelly Butler.
Our hearts are shattered with the loss of our Dad, Pappou, and Old Grumpy. Dick will be buried on the ranch in a private family service.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Colorado Bluebird Project via the Denver Audubon Society. Checks can be made out to Denver Audubon and mailed to 9308 S. Wadsworth Blvd. Littleton, CO 80128. The memo on the check should say “In memory of Dick Butler”. Donations can also be made online at denveraudubon.org.